Assemblyman and San Diego mayoral candidate Todd Gloria has been accused of money laundering and is now demanded by Attorney David E. Kenney to be “civilly prosecuted.” Kenney represents Kathryn Burton and Mat Wahlstrom, two community activists from San Diego.
Kenney wrote a 1,300-word letter to District Attorney Summer Stephan and the San Diego County Attorney Mara Elliott. In this letter, Kenney expressed his client’s concern about a potential conspiracy led by Assemblyman Gloria to launder money to the San Diego County Democratic Party, a candidate for State Assembly, and other members in the Assembly.
Kenney’s client, Kathryn Burton, had a phone interview on Wednesday night and confirmed her involvement in the letter from Kenney. Burton is a chair for the Coastal Act group, Spotlight on Coastal Corruption, and the Torrey Hills Community Planning Group. Burton worked in the San Diego Attorney’s Office as well. However, she is now listed as inactive by the State Bar.
Mat Wahlstrom, Kenney’s other client, is an office manager for Robert’s Electric Service, a former board member of the Uptown Planners, and a current member of the Save Our Heritage Organization’s board.
In his letter, Kenney relayed that if the Attorney’s office does not pursue prosecution, “my clients intend to prosecute pursuant to PRA section 91007(a).” The section from the Procedure for Civil Actions specifies that someone must write a “written request for the civil prosecutor to commence the action” before filing a civil action.
Kenney also mentioned the quick transfer of money from his 2018 Assembly committee to the new 2020 Assembly 2020 committee before those funds became surplus by law. The money transferred came to a total of nearly $300,000.
Kenney further wrote, “the problem is that Mr. Gloria did not file his declaration of intent to run for re-election to the Assembly in 2020 until August 13, 2019, which is one day after the first article on this subject ran.” The claim made by Kenney suggested that Gloria’s purpose for the creation of his 2020 Assembly committee was to extend the expiration date of the funds.
In the letter’s closing, Kenney noted that he would like the attorneys to respond in 120 days as required by the previously stated PRA section 91007(a).
The entire letter can be viewed here.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon
