Kinde Durkee Called "The Bernie Madoff Of Campaign Finance Treasurers"

Categories: politics
MadoffDurkee.jpg
Bernie Madoff and Kinde Durkee
Update: Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she was "wiped out." More below.

Another day, another victim of the Kinde Durkee campaign finance scandal.

Rep. Susan Davis, a San Diego Democrat and a Durkee client, told supporters over the weekend that more than $250,000 has been stolen from her account.

"We have been robbed!!" Davis said in an email, adding that Durkee "may well become known as the Bernie Madoff of campaign finance treasurers."

Durkee is accused of using campaign money to pay her personal expenses, including her taxes, mortgages, cosmetics, a trip to the Long Beach Aquarium, and her mom's nursing home bill.

Davis adds her name to the growing list of alleged victims. It started with Assemblyman Jose Solorio, who was named as a victim in the federal complaint. Since then, Sen. Lou Correa, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, and the L.A. County Democratic Party have all said that they, too, were victimized.

Not everyone is so unfortunate. L.A. Controller Wendy Greuel, a Durkee client and the leading fundraiser in the 2013 L.A. mayor's race, announced today that she has checked with her bank and all her campaign funds are present and accounted for. She is looking for a new treasurer. That should give some hope to other clients.

Still no word from Durkee's highest profile client: Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Update: Feinstein tells Politico that "I was wiped out, too."

She says she doesn't know exactly what the losses were, but seems certain that she too was victimized. She had $5 million in the bank as of June 30.

Feinstein is up for reelection next year. She tells Politico she trusted Durkee "implicitly." "It's very painful," she said.

Note: Feinstein is the 7th richest person in the Senate, with a net worth somewhere between $48 million and $110 million. So if it came right down to it she could self-finance.

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

Privacy Policy
Sign up for free stuff, news info & more!

Tools

Music

Home

General

Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places

    Voice Places

    Discover restaurants, nightlife, travel, shopping...

  • VOICE Daily Deals

    VOICE Daily Deals

    Get 50 to 90% off every day on restaurants, movies, massages...

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    More than 10,000 of the BEST things to eat, drink, and experience

  • My Voice Nation

    My Voice Nation

    Join the Village Voice community and get exclusive deals and info

  • Happy Hour

    Happy Hour

    Your local Happy Hour guide at your fingertips

or

Log in or Sign up

Social Connect:

Use your favorite account to access My Voice Nation.


Use your My Voice Nation account to log in:





Forgot password?
or

Sign Up or Log in

Social Connect:

Sign up for My Voice Nation with your preferred network.


Sign up for a My Voice Nation account:



Privacy policy