SAN FRANCISCO: Lee wanted to help son, ex-lawyer says [Kevin Shelley's fundraiser Julie Lee]

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 12/1/5 | Vanessa Hua

[SmithL]

Testimony shows indicted fundraiser sought political power.

Jeffrey Chen, former attorney for San Francisco political fundraiser Julie Lee, suggests that her desire to help her son resulted in an alleged campaign finance scheme that drove former Secretary of State Kevin Shelley from office.

A redacted transcript of Chen's grand jury testimony that was made public this week shows Chen participated with Lee in an alleged scheme in which part of a state grant was diverted to Shelley's campaign.

Portions of the transcript were kept sealed based on the judge's ruling that they revealed confidential communication protected by attorney-client privilege.

Chen said that Lee was eager to promote her son's budding political career. She gathered her board of directors at the nonprofit San Francisco Neighbors Resource Center and all the people she knew, he testified, telling them "she wants her son to run for supervisor, and ... we should help him win. If he wins, it will be good for the community and things like that."

While still serving as majority leader in the state Assembly, Shelley earmarked a $500,000 grant for Lee's nonprofit group. The money was supposed to be startup funding for the group's community center in the Sunset District, which was never built.

In August 2004, The Chronicle reported that five people and companies had made $25,000 donations to Shelley's 2002 campaign that coincided with their receipt of payments from Lee's nonprofit.

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Andrew Lee and Julie Lee (behind him to the left)

[SmithL]

Go ahead. Try to guess the political persuasions of the politicians involved.

[SmithL]

ShmelleyGate Ping

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks!

I wonder if Smelley ever found his PDA that mysteriously went missing?

[frankjr]

Someone ask Julie if the drapes match the carpet.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Hey, c'mon, now. San Francisco IS a two-party town. You have your Marxist Democrats and your Stalinist Greens. Lotsa choices. ;-)

[Crawdad]

I heard there is no carpet.

[frankjr]

Heard or saw?

[Crawdad]

Eeewwww!

[lexloci]

cool! THANKS!

"Any illegally or improperly obtained evidence is subject to a defense motion to suppress. That's where we see the case going, with respect to Mr. Chen." <- just the defense blowing smoke?