Posted on 08/30/2006 7:49:38 AM PDT by calcowgirl
SACRAMENTO — It's been a decade since legendary Hollywood fixer Sidney Korshak was buried following a half-century of rubbing elbows with mobsters, movie executives and politicians.
Now tales of the late lawyer's colorful career — relegated to newspaper archives and dusty FBI documents — could reemerge as political fodder in the contest for California attorney general.
A book scheduled for release next week revives decades-old allegations... Brown's opponent in the attorney general's race, Republican state Sen. Chuck Poochigian of Fresno, intends to shine a spotlight on the book, "Supermob: How Sidney Korshak and His Criminal Associates Became America's Hidden Power Brokers."
(snip)
Russo describes Korshak... as a longtime chum of Brown's father, former California Gov. Pat Brown. When the son ran for the state's highest office in 1974, he knew he couldn't afford a credible campaign "without going to the same gentry and Supermob that had supported his father," Russo writes.
Jerry Brown received "massive contributions" during the 1974 gubernatorial race from friends and associates of Korshak, the book contends. During his reelection campaign four years later, Brown's association with Korshak "became a major point of criticism and even mockery," the book says.
Newspapers noted Korshak's attendance at a $1,000-a-plate Beverly Hills fundraiser for Brown in 1978 after a report on organized crime by then-state Atty. Gen. Evelle Younger named the influential labor lawyer "the key link between organized crime and big business."
According to the book, Younger's report said Korshak, though never indicted, had been the subject of several FBI investigations and had been linked to organized crime since the 1940s. One U.S. Justice Department official described Korshak as a senior advisor to organized crime groups in California, Chicago, Las Vegas and New York. Korshak denied the charges.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
'Rats and mobsters, no surprises here.
I do notice that there is no mention made of either Pat or Jerry Brown being 'Rats.
A book scheduled for release next week revives decades-old allegations that Democratic candidate Jerry Brown...
I figured it was in the story somewhere, but how far down was it buried? If Brown had been a Republican, it would have been in the headline.
Paragraph three, IIRC.
But I think everybody knows Jerry Brown is a democrat.
Moonbeam is a legend! lol.
He's running for AG now? This must be the poltical version of hitting for the cycle.
Californias Elliot Spencer.
This allegation was actually the target of a series of Doonesbury cartoons when Brown was Governor, back in the 70's!
Those are probably collector's items now. lol.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.