Now the attorney general’s office is investigating the Dodgers, and rightly so

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The Dodgers are undergoing the biggest trial in team history, but that’s hardly the end to the team’s legal problems.

Nothing is more important to the Dodgers than determining team ownership, but an investigation by the California attorney general’s office is hardly insignificant.

But that’s what is happening, one more black mark on the McCourt ownership that hardly needs another.

This one, though, is a real low. Not just another money-juggling act by the club but one that may have impacted a team charity in an unscrupulous manner.

The attorney general’s office is investigating the compensation the Dodgers Dream Foundation made to club executive Howard Sunkin, who is an advisor / lobbyist / assistant for Frank McCourt.

The investigation centers on the $400,000 in salary Sunkin received from the charitable foundation in 2007, which was a quarter of the charity’s entire budget.

I’ve written that a few times now and still have trouble believing it. Not that anyone is denying it.

The attorney general’s office has sent a letter to the Dodgers requesting several documents and answers to questions as to how the charity paid Sunkin.

The inquiry comes almost two months after the New York Times reported the stunning compensation. The Times said a salary of $400,000 was more in line for someone running a $100-million charity.

The Dodgers have acknowledged receiving the letter from the attorney general’s office and said they are fully cooperating with the investigation.

Like what else are they going to do?

There have been plenty of organizational mistakes made the last few years, but this one feels just plain sleazy. This one has earned an investigation.

-- Steve Dilbeck