The Los Angeles County Democratic Party passed around a donations basket at a meeting and laid off one employee this week, unsure they’d be able to make payroll. Fifty-one college students can’t get access to scholarships issued by the Legislative Black Caucus Policy Institute. That’s all thanks to the arrest of prominent California treasurer Kinde Durkee, accused of making personal use of her clients’ funds.
As Durkee and her lawyer meet with federal prosecutors and pour over the evidence in her case, the bank where she keep most of her clients’ money is refusing to release control of the accounts until they agree to “hold the Bank harmless” for any misdeeds in the Durkee case.
It’s likely Durkee’s alleged crimes will affect a plethora of mostly Democratic campaigns and organizations. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) have said their campaign chests were nearly wiped out. But so far, the feds have only named one assemblyman that Durkee allegedly pilfered from.
Meanwhile, details of Durkee’s business dealings continue to emerge. One former employee told the Washington Post’s T.W. Farnam that Durkee showed no signs of an extravagant lifestyle, and typically arrived at the office by 6 a.m., regularly working 60 hours per week.
“She drove a ratty truck that was barely running,” the employee said. “That thing was in the shop all the time.”
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