U.S. begins Shelley probe

Sacramento Bee ^ | 1/28/5 | David Whitney

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Elections Assistance Commission voted Thursday to audit California's alleged misuse of federal election funds, dealing another blow to embattled Secretary of State Kevin Shelley.

In ordering what will be the first special audit under the $3 billion Help America Vote Act, the four-member commission based its unanimous decision on the spate of troubling questions raised in a report last month by the state's chief auditor, including Shelley's alleged use of federal elections-improvement money for partisan purposes.

"I don't know of any circumstances where federal funds could be used at partisan events," said Gracia Hillman, the panel's chairwoman.

But Hillman said she was drawing no conclusions from the state audit other than to recognize that it raises serious questions deserving deeper inquiry.

"I would be speculating (whether) we're talking about poor management practices or misuse of funds," she said.

Tony Miller, former special counsel to Shelley who since Dec. 1 has been working as state coordinator for the HAVA program, called the commission's action "disappointing and premature."

He said the program is undergoing a thorough Bureau of State Audits review that should be completed soon and that the elections panel should have waited to see the results of that report.

Miller characterized the widening mess over the use of the elections money as a failure to supervise and document expenditures, but said "never did we cross the line and authorize partisan work."

To the extent that it might look like consultants paid with federal elections money attended Democratic events or worked on partisan speeches, he said "that was a failure to supervise."

Miller, who flew in Thursday morning to sit through the commission meeting and left on a return flight to Sacramento on Thursday afternoon, pledged Shelley's full cooperation with federal auditors.

[SmithL]

First it was the State,
then, his fellow Democrats,
then , the newspapers,
and now, the Federal Government.

Maybe Shelley is just a slow learner.

[BenLurkin]

The article is silent. Let me guess . . he is a

D-E-M-O-C-R-A-T

[Grampa Dave]

"The article is silent. Let me guess . . he is a

D-E-M-O-C-R-A-T!"

Bingo, a big time rat crook!

[PeterFinn]

I simply cannot believe that Shelley did all of this all on his own.

I can't wait to see this guy sing to the US Attorney when he is indicted. I'm eagerly anticipating the fall of many more of his Democrat fair-weather friends.

[bruin66]

To the extent that it might look like consultants paid with federal elections money attended Democratic events or worked on partisan speeches, he said "that was a failure to supervise."

AHA! The UN defense. Actually, it sounds like "No controlling authority" defense.

[conservative_2001]

Where's Barbara Boxer? I thought she was so concerned about reforming the elections process.

[Cicero]

It looks more and more as if Shelley is not only corrupt but more than usually stupid.