BUMP
I have seen you make this point before. I can only hope that those in a position to do so are looking into it.
As Simon points out in his statement, the location of this transaction is STILL in question.
I say again, FIND THAT PAINTING, the modern art work that is on the right wall behind Angele who is handing the check to Davis. Davis may have had "four" offices as Lt. Gov. But he only had ONE of this painting.Not any more.BUMP
I have seen you make this point before. I can only hope that those in a position to do so are looking into it.
As Simon points out in his statement, the location of this transaction is STILL in question.
From http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20021009-1704-ca-governorsrace.html:
Davis says Simon should drop out because of check claimBy Erica Werner
ASSOCIATED PRESSOctober 9, 2002
LOS ANGELES – Gov. Gray Davis called on Republican opponent Bill Simon Wednesday to withdraw from the governor's race as Simon conceded his allegation that Davis illegally accepted a campaign check inside the state Capitol "is now in question."
Simon had cited as evidence photos released Tuesday by a group allied with him. The photos were actually taken in a private home in Santa Monica, the home's then-owner confirmed Wednesday.
"I had no reason to question the California Organization of Police and Sheriffs' good faith belief in their charge against the governor," Simon said in a statement.
"They were reporting the charge directly to the (Fair Political Practices Commission), and they claimed that they had documented proof of their charge."
"He should drop out," Davis said on KGO-AM.
"This whole sorry episode has backfired in Mr. Simon's face ... as a former prosecutor, he should certainly be embarrassed, and if he had any sense of honor, he would drop out of the race. You have to check your facts in this business," the governor said.
Simon will not withdraw from the race, aides said.
Simon made the initial accusation Monday after the first gubernatorial debate and said he had evidence.
The evidence turned out to be the two nearly identical Jan. 31, 1998, photos COPS released Tuesday, along with a complaint COPS lodged with the Fair Political Practices Commission. COPS claimed the photos showed a former COPS official giving then-Lt. Gov. Davis a $10,000 check in his Capitol office during his first run for governor. It's a violation of state law to give or receive campaign contributions in state buildings.
Scrutiny by reporters and the Davis campaign showed the photos were not taken in Davis' office.
On Wednesday the Davis camp disclosed they were taken at a fund-raising breakfast in Santa Monica at the home of Davis backer Bruce Karatz, chairman and CEO of KB Home.
Karatz no longer owns the home. "He was able to identify it because there's a painting in the background that is his painting," said Larry Gotlieb, KB Home's vice president for government and public affairs.
It was unclear why COPS, which split angrily with Davis to back Simon, represented Karatz's den as the lieutenant governor's office in Sacramento. The group's executive director and its attorney, Thomas W. Hiltachk, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
In another blow to Simon on Wednesday, state Attorney General Bill Lockyer turned down a request from the Republican candidate for attorney general, state Sen. Dick Ackerman of Fullerton, to open an investigation into Davis' fund-raising practices. Simon had also sought the investigation, but Lockyer said in a letter to Ackerman he found no evidence that would suggest criminal behavior by Davis.
The COPS episode was the latest in a series of stumbles by Simon's campaign, from the bungled release of his tax returns to a civil fraud verdict against his investment firm that a judge later threw out. Analysts said the first-time candidate's chances of overtaking Davis in the campaign's crucial final month were dimming.
"How often have we had this conversation – can he recover from it, can he recover from it? Probably not any longer," said Allan Hoffenblum, a Republican consultant.
Campaign sources said COPS had guarded the photos closely before Tuesday and it was not part of the plan for Simon to tell reporters after the debate that he had evidence of illegal Davis fund-raising.
Davis threatened legal action against COPS, and his counsel sent Hiltachk a letter warning him and the group to stop making "baseless accusations."
COPS, which claims a membership of about 5,000 officers, is known for aggressively raising funds for political candidates to appear on its slate mailer. COPS long backed Davis before endorsing Simon, who gave the group more than $200,000 and will appear on its mailer.