Free Republic

Former strip club owner Michael Galardi bankrolled the plan to bribe San Diego councilmen to repeal a no-touching law at the clubs, but he was not the leader and organizer of the plan and should not be penalized as such, prosecutors said. JERRY RIFE/Union-Tribune Michael Galardi testified in the council bribery trial. In documents filed Thursday with the court, prosecutors took the unusual step of objecting to a sentencing recommendation by the neutral U.S. Probation Office by saying it is too harsh. Prosecutors are better known for objecting when they consider recommendations to be too lenient. The government disputed the...

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A city councilman announced his resignation Thursday, three days after he was convicted of federal corruption charges in a failed scheme to overturn San Diego's ban on touching dancers at strip clubs. Ralph Inzunza, 35, said his resignation would take effect Monday. In a three-sentence letter, he said he was stepping down "in order that the business of the city may continue." Inzunza and Michael Zucchet, a fellow councilman and acting mayor, were suspended from office Monday after a jury convicted them of conspiracy, extortion and wire fraud. Zucchet announced his resignation Tuesday at an emotional...

A federal jury has found San Diego City council members Ralph Inzunza and Michael Zuchett guilty of several charges in connection with allegations that they accepted money from a strip club owner in return for efforts to rescind the city's no-touch ordinance. LISTEN FOR LIVE COVERAGE ON NEWSRADIO 600 KOGO.

San Diego's Acting Mayor Convicted By ELLIOT SPAGAT, Associated Press Writer 8 minutes ago A federal jury on Monday convicted San Diego's new acting mayor and a city councilman of taking payoffs from a strip club owner to help repeal the "no-touching" ordinance at nude clubs, the latest blow to a city already awash in scandal. Michael Zucchet, who became interim mayor over the weekend, was found guilty of conspiracy, extortion and fraud on his first business day in office. He will almost certainly have to resign. Councilman Ralph Inzunza, who was also convicted of the same charges, is also...

SAN DIEGO - City Councilman Michael Zucchet has been logging long days in court, where his federal trial on charges of accepting illegal campaign money from a strip-club owner is finally set to go to a jury as early as Tuesday. On Friday, he is scheduled to take over as interim mayor of a city that has long prided itself on clean government. Or maybe he won't. San Diego, stung by a string of embarrassing scandals, is facing a fundamental question at a time of deep legal and financial trouble: Who's in charge? Voters are mulling who should replace Mayor...

FBI agents accompanied by San Diego police raided the offices of three San Diego City Council members shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday. Search warrants were served at the offices of Councilmen Ralph Inzunza, Charles Lewis and Michael Zucchet, U.S. Attorney Carol Lam said at a news conference The probe may involve campaign contributions, sources close to the investigation told The San Diego Union-Tribune. No charges have been filed, FBI Agent Jan Caldwell said in a brief statement. "We'll try to wrap up the investigation as expeditiously as possible," Caldwell said. The FBI also served a search warrant at Cheetahs, a...

The highly anticipated corruption trial of two San Diego city councilmen is scheduled to begin Tuesday with much more at stake than the freedom and careers of young politicians. The reputation of the city and the future of its Democratic-majority council will be on the line. The trial could bring a backlash against politicians in general, revealing their behind-the-scenes behavior and giving constituents an unprecedented peek at their elected officials beyond images and slogans. "To a certain extent, the system is on trial," said Geoffrey C. Morrison, a lawyer for cooperating defendant John D'Intino. "What's going to end up happening...

<p>FBI agents leave Cheetah's in Las Vegas after the raid Wednesday.</p> <p>LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AP) -- Dozens of FBI agents conducted raids in two states as part of a public corruption probe seeking information about strip club owners and their possible involvement with elected officials.</p>