Campaign Scandal Hits California Democrats

Democrats have a financial problem in California. Kinde Durkee, who has served as treasurer for hundreds of federal, state, and local Democratic campaign committees, including those of Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Reps. Linda Sanchez, Bob Filner, Laura Richardson and Susan Davis, is in jail amid accusations of trying to steal $677,000 from a state representative, Politico reports.

The office of Calif. Rep. Loretta Sanchez told the news service that Durkee took almost all of her campaign money. “What we’ve learned this week is that unfortunately, the amount in our re-elect account is substantially less than the amount we’ve raised this year, as well as the amount reflected in the records sent to us by Durkee & Associates. In fact, our account has been nearly wiped out,” said Adrienne Elrod, Sanchez’s chief of staff.

Other Democratic legislators who used Durkee to guide their finances are now rushing to discover whether their money is gone.