Jerry Brown expands investigation into Bell, subpoenas nine current and former city officials

Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown announced Monday he is expanding his investigation into the activities of officials in Bell to include allegations of voter fraud involving absentee ballots.

The Times last week reported allegations from Bell voters that city officials had told them how to vote on their absentee ballots, filled them out for some voters and picked up completed ballots from other voters, apparently in violation of the state election code.

In addition, Brown said his office was serving subpoenas Monday on nine current and former Bell officials to compel them to give depositions and to turn over federal and state income tax returns, records relating to pay and pension benefits, gifts they have received and documents relating to bank accounts and business interests.

Brown also issued a subpoena for records involving the city's former law firm, Best, Best and Krieger.

This is the second set of subpoenas the attorney general has issued. Late last month he issued subpoenas for documents from Bell.

-- Jeff Gottlieb

Photo: Jerry Brown. Credit: Los Angeles Times

 

 

Comments

[Paul Espinoza]

Citizens of Bell, Justice is coming.... and right soon!

[prolgazinternet]

According toRepublican strategist Grover Norquist, "W" borrowed $1 trillion to give a federal tax bailout to well-to-do people like Bell city administrators and to candidates Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman. How about a little transparency about where these people have invested their billions? How much of their billions are helping to create jobs here in California?

[Fred]

Both parties better join up and crush these creeps.

We fully expect that you will reverse their pensions, and if possible prosecute and jail them. Anything less, and every last one of you can start looking for a job.

[Karen]

I hope the people in Bell goes to Prison. They stole from all of us. They should not get there penison either. Live like we have to on Social Security and try and make it like us little people who get nothing for working all these years.

All cities and Water Companies-Electric-Gas should also be looked into. The city of Norwalk charges 88% service charge
on a water bill that was 48.64 and service charge was 41.35
making my water bill 89.99.

[kgoddess]

And the beat goes on...

[dan]

Good Job Jerry!

[Nero's Fiddle]

Brown is going to ride this horse right to the Governorship.

[THE A MAN]

ANOTHER TIP MR BROWN YOU CANT OUTSPEND MEG BUT YOU CAN OUT MORAL HER.

DO THE MORAL THING AND STOP ALL FORECLOSURES HOUSES BUSINESSES ETC.......

STOP THESE PSYCHOPATHS CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY USING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION (ECONOMIC WEAPONS) WHO ARE ALSO RUINING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE.

[Southoc]

He should have looked into this 10 years ago. How long has he been in office?

[Mrs OS]

I cannot believe how those People in Bell could live with themselves, What Greed. Here our economy is in a mess and they kick back and live off the less fortunate. I once owned proprty in Bell and know that most residents of Bell are mostly low income hard working people.

[elma cano]

It's about time!

[Manuel Alderete]

Indict these traitors.

[Paul Torrez]

Pure Politics...

[Funny Guy]

How sad is it that everyone blows up about some public servants making more than they should, while actually SERVING THE PUBLIC, yet no one is making a big stink when their bank's officials or other corporate bosses are raking in MILLIONS a year and sticking it to them with fees, costs, limited services, etc... This is the case of the wool being pulled over everyone's eyes and the red herring by keep the focus off big business.

The real dummies are the electorate who voted these people in and are asleep at the wheel. Maybe they ought to wake up along with the media and put a spotlight on those who make millions off of the people rather than a few public officials who make in the hundred thousands. Yes it should be less, but c'mon, corporations are taking in more everyday and the bank bosses who were bailed out are still making millions more! Where is the disgust here. And they're even going after public officials by trying to attack their pensions too! They want everyone to be poor except for them. Capitalism is scary!

[alex]

$ 50.000 a year-no more- if you want to be public servant.

[Mike]

Looking for votes Jerry? Would you care if you weren't in a campaign? I didn't think so.

[Laguna Lucy]

oh gee.... Jerry Brown just woke up, there must be an upcoming election....

[Richard Cranium]

Its about time he investigated this. Way to do your job, although I will still NOT vote for him....

[Phil Osopher]

With my Moonbeam, beaming in on them they are in real trouble.
Especially now, a election year for Jerry.

This guys are going to jail...

[Tim]

I think the time has come for all Americans to ask the question exactly Who is serving Whom?' The average American makes $35,000 a year and the average public servant sucks an average of $200,000 a year off the taxpayer and that's before all the perks, free cars, slush funds, free lunch stipends, free travel and free gas are all added in. The public servants have been feeding off the public trough for so long that they actually think they are entitled to it.

[andy levinson]

When is jerry going to investigate Bernard parks $400,000 pension and councilman salary...and all the cops and firemen who have left the city and county with $200,000 + pensions....this isn't normal

[Ernie Black]

I still want to know who authorised those salieries. They also should be held accountable.

[Mike Epsilon]

Thanks for keeping everyone up to date on this story. Excellent work!

[MPOA]

Why isn't Brown including the city officials in Maywood as part of the investigation? Bell officials worked hand in hand with Maywood. Bell officials are the ones that told Maywood to lay off all the employees including the police so that the Maywood Council could start to earn big bucks like the Bell city council. Just ask Angela Spaccia

[John Leddy]

Jerry Brown is a fighter for the people - he always has been. Brown has the best shot at finding a way to stop fraud and protect the public interest.