Reiner, Nunez Help Mayor Triple Fundraising Target For Ethics Fine
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Despite thousands of dollars in fines for accepting free tickets to entertainment and sporting events, apparently it still pays to be the mayor of Los Angeles.
Dozens of contributions from both Hollywood and the high-powered political world helped Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa raise $123,000 to pay ethics violation fines for accepting free tickets to high-profile events, according to newly-released public filing.
KNX 1070's Bob Brill reports the money raised is nearly triple the amount of fines that stem from an admission by the mayor that he did not report tickets he received to over 30 events during his first five years in office.
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The Fair Political Practice Commission and the city Ethics Commission fined Villaraigosa nearly $42,000 in April for tickets to events including Lakers and Dodgers games, the Oscars, American Music Awards, the Emmy Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards and a 2009 "American Idol" show.
Villaraigosa established three legal defense funds enabling him to raise money to pay for the violations.
Fifty-four contributors gave money to the mayor, including film director Rob Reiner and electoral campaigns for Assemblyman Fabian Nunez and state Sen. Kevin de Leon.
