Posted on 02/17/2005 8:51:23 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata on Wednesday said he has refused to describe his past work as a private political consultant that is part of an FBI probe because the details are not "particularly interesting."
Speaking at a luncheon sponsored by the Sacramento Press Club, the Oakland Democrat also said he believes an FBI investigation into his family and political friends has no merit and was spawned by political enemies as he successfully ran for the top Senate job last year.
"I believe this whole thing was inspired by a very poorly written opposition report attacking me and my quest for the pro temship," he said. "And then it began to snowball from there."
Perata has received outside income since 2000 - more than $100,000 in 2003 - for "general consulting" from companies owned by his college friend, Timothy Staples, according to state records. At the same time, three Staples-owned firms have received at least $338,000 in campaign funds since 2001 from political committees controlled by Perata.
Perata has long insisted that he maintained a firewall between his private work and his position as a senator, though he has never explained what he did for Staples. Perata stopped working for Staples early last year.
"I don't believe that how I did in private business has anything to do with the public domain. ... I disclosed everything according to the law; there are no secrets there," Perata said. "And I don't think there's anything particularly interesting there. But I also recognize that I'm in a position now where there's going to be both speculation and divided opinion. I don't think it has anything to do with the job that I'm doing."
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
I'll wait for the FBI's conclusions.
I'm sure I'm sure. Just an honest mistake. Now if he only has a second job as a male escort, he would be exempt from such scrutiny.
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