Posted on 09/12/2011 4:18:13 PM PDT by PJ-Comix
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she was “wiped out” by Kinde Durkee, a well-connected California Democratic political operative who served as treasurer for hundreds of state, local and federal campaign committees.
Durkee was arrested by the FBI on Sept. 2 on allegations of fraud surrounding the diversion of more than $670,000 from the reelection committee for a California state assemblyman, and a growing list of California Democrats, including Feinstein and Reps. Susan Davis and Loretta Sanchez, now appear to victims as well.
“I was wiped out too, we don’t know how much,” said Feinstein, indicating the losses in campaign funds could run into hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars. Feinstein, who is up for reelection next year, reported just over $5 million in the bank as of June 30, according to disclosure reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
“She did my ‘92 campaign, my ‘94 campaign, my 2000 [campaign], my 2006 [campaign] … my gubernatorial campaign,” Feinstein told POLITICO on Monday, describing her long relationship with Durkee. “I trusted her implicitly.”
Feinstein said she and her campaign staff have been unable to access all their bank records at this point because Durkee alone controlled access to the account, which has made it difficult for them to assess how much money is gone.
“It’s very painful,” Feinstein added.
Davis is missing more than $250,000 from her reelection committee. Loretta Sanchez has already declared her $379,000 campaign war chest was “nearly wiped out” by Kindee. The Los Angeles County Democratic Party reported that it lost at least $200,000, while California Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D) may be out as much as $677,000.
And dozens of other campaign committees have yet to declare whether they suffered losses as well.
Durkee has not been formally accused of any wrondoing in connection with missing funds from the campaign accounts of Feinstein, Davis or Sanchez at this time, but Justice Department officials allege that Durkee moved money from one of Solorio’s accounts into an account she controlled and then wrote a check for $125,000 to Sanchez’s campaign shortly before last November’s congressional elections.
In a letter sent by Davis on Sunday - first reported by the San Diego Union Tribune - the six-term House member told supporters that “we have been robbed!”
“Upwards of $250,000 in campaign funds have been stolen from us. Our treasurer was arrested and is accused of funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars (maybe millions) to herself from our campaign, and the campaigns of many, many others,” Davis stated.
“The records we vigilantly kept and reported to the Federal Election Commission accurately reflect contributions that we received and monies we knowingly spent. However, the reports [Durkee] submitted to us about our account balances were false. As this scandal emerges, she may well become known as the Bernie Madoff of campaign finance treasurers.”
Durkee was one of the most widely sought after treasurers in California Democratic politics with dozens of state, local and federal clients. An FBI special agent told a federal judge in California that Durkee had access to “more than 400 bank accounts” at the time of her arrest, and the scale of alleged diversions of funds is only now starting to become clear.
Durkee reportedly used the money she is accused of diverted from Solorio to cover business and personal expenses, including payments for her mother’s nursing home.
Durkee has been released on a $200,000 bond on Friday under strict conditions that she not leave the region or involve herself in the affairs of her company, Durkee & Associates, or its clients.
If only Republicans had candidates to run against these cash strapped Democrats.
Boy the DNC will have their hands full in 2012 trying to pay for all of this when so many are out of work.I almost feel bad for them....but not that much.As they say Karma is one cold B*^$*!
I just had a flash of a thought ike that....will they blame their massive losses in 2012 on not having the money???
I just had a flash of a thought like that....will they blame their massive losses in 2012 on not having the money???
I suppose I’m I’m expected to be outraged by such a development, but I’m having a hard time giving a damn.
What to do.
Can we erect a monument to honor this woman?
Somebody needs to give this Durkee chick a Nobel Prize
Your correction came too late, our group just prayed for a loaded school bus to crash into an orphanage so as to increases your chances at a tissue match.NO TAKE BACKS!!!
Not my fault....
After all, both she and Obama stole the money from someone else so what did they have to lose.
“If only Republicans had candidates to run against these cash strapped Democrats.”
The reason that the Stupid Party doesn’t have candidates to run against the Evil Party is because the candidate selection process is still controlled by the RINO elite.
Get rid of those parasites and some good people could be nominated.
“I suppose I’m I’m expected to be outraged by such a development, but I’m having a hard time giving a damn. What to do.”
How about the redneck response? Take a pull on a whiskey bottle, spit some tobacco, and drawl laconically, “Welp, if you lie down with dogs, you git up with fleas.”
“what’s difi complaining for? durkee was only redistributing the wealth”
Well, you need to remember that it’s only considered “redistribution when libtards steal money from hardworking Americans. When somebody steals money from Dems, libtards, unions, etc, only then is it considered to be theft.
Their moto should be:
“It’s ‘social justice and redistribution’ when it happens to thee, but it’s fraud and theft when it happens to me.”
Any news yet on the exact amount that Durkee embezzled from Feinstein? I have a feeling that DiFi already knows it is almost the whole $5 million because of her use off the term “wiped out.”
Wow! Great news!
I’m wondering how long before Drudge headlines this. It is PERFECT material for him. Also Rush, Hannity, etc. should be talking about this today. Bottom line, if DiFi and the other Democrats couldn’t even handle their own campaign finances perhaps we should shudder over the fact that they have been in control of the nation’s finances. Note that DiFi can’t even access her own campaign accounts at this time.
Excellent point. I hope it makes the airwaves today!!
This also makes for some great SNL material.
What bloodtype is he? Our oldest daughter (41) had a transplant from her dad (my hubby) in 1990 after total kidney failure at 19. That went south in 2000. She’s back on dialysis (home hemo) and today is headed to Washington with her baby (32) sister to speak before congress regarding transplants and immunosuppressant drugs. She is going to get a new transplant from her cousin as soon as they can get the tests done and over with. He signed up with donor exchange and will give a kidney to someone when she gets one from another living donor.
She might be a friend of Laz's.
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