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High-speed rail authority cleared in ethics probe

Fair Political Practices Commission concludes that officials did not violate Political Reform Act

The state agency responsible for ethics enforcement has completed its probe of the California High-Speed Rail Authority and concluded that the agency did not violate a state law governing gift disclosures.

The Fair Political Practices Commission in October began investigating former rail authority Executive Director Mehdi Morshed, board Chair Curt Pringle, Vice Chair Tom Umberg and board members Quentin Kopp and Lynn Schenk after receiving a complaint that the officials did not properly document their trips to Europe.

The complaint alleged that rail officials violated the Political Reform Act, which requires officials to disclose gift receipts and travel.

The commission sent letters to the authority officials on Jan. 25 informing them that it has concluded its investigation and that it had not found any violations.

"Our investigation has determined that there is no evidence that you committed a violation of the Act," wrote Gary S. Winuk, chief of FPPC Enforcement Division. "As a result, we are closing this case without taking any further action."

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The commission began its investigation after the Los Angeles Times reported last fall that board members had taken trips to Europe in the past without properly disclosing them.

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Gennady Sheyner
 
Gennady Sheyner covers the City Hall beat in Palo Alto as well as regional politics, with a special focus on housing and transportation. Before joining the Palo Alto Weekly/PaloAltoOnline.com in 2008, he covered breaking news and local politics for the Waterbury Republican-American, a daily newspaper in Connecticut. Read more >>

Follow on Twitter @paloaltoweekly, Facebook and on Instagram @paloaltoonline for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more.

High-speed rail authority cleared in ethics probe

Fair Political Practices Commission concludes that officials did not violate Political Reform Act

The state agency responsible for ethics enforcement has completed its probe of the California High-Speed Rail Authority and concluded that the agency did not violate a state law governing gift disclosures.

The Fair Political Practices Commission in October began investigating former rail authority Executive Director Mehdi Morshed, board Chair Curt Pringle, Vice Chair Tom Umberg and board members Quentin Kopp and Lynn Schenk after receiving a complaint that the officials did not properly document their trips to Europe.

The complaint alleged that rail officials violated the Political Reform Act, which requires officials to disclose gift receipts and travel.

The commission sent letters to the authority officials on Jan. 25 informing them that it has concluded its investigation and that it had not found any violations.

"Our investigation has determined that there is no evidence that you committed a violation of the Act," wrote Gary S. Winuk, chief of FPPC Enforcement Division. "As a result, we are closing this case without taking any further action."

The commission began its investigation after the Los Angeles Times reported last fall that board members had taken trips to Europe in the past without properly disclosing them.

Comments

Arch Conservative
Menlo Park
on Jan 31, 2011 at 11:28 am
Arch Conservative, Menlo Park
on Jan 31, 2011 at 11:28 am

Anyone expect any different outcome?
The question of whether they took trips to Europe was not answered.
Foxes guarding the henhouse.


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