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Mirikitani: ‘I’ve
done nothing illegal’
The FBI searched the
councilman's office, van and
home on FridayYoshimura's finances
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
still raise eyebrows
Star-BulletinCity Councilman Andy Mirikitani acknowledges being investigated by the FBI but continues to deny wrongdoing.
"The government is free to conduct an investigation of whomever they choose, as you are aware," Mirikitani said at a news conference yesterday. "To the best of my knowledge, I've done nothing illegal or improper and my obligation is to continue working in the public's interest."
Mirikitani, flanked by newly hired attorney Philip Lowenthal, said he did not know why he is being investigated and that he has not been interviewed by federal officials.
FBI spokesman John Gillies earlier yesterday confirmed that there is an investigation involving Mirikitani and that agents with warrants conducted searches of Mirikitani's office, van and apartment Friday.
Gillies would not say why Mirikitani is being investigated and referred other questions to the U.S. attorney's office, which declined comment.
But allegations have been raised about kickbacks connected to $26,000 in bonuses Mirikitani gave to two employees last summer. Neither is still working for Mirikitani.
One of the aides, who was making $3,619.04 a month, received a one-time $16,916.72 "adjustment" on June 1. The second aide, who was making $2,333.33 a month, received a one-time adjustment of $9,408.40 on June 16.
Mirikitani yesterday repeated an earlier claim that "I've done nothing illegal or improper."
Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura said he has not been contacted by the FBI or other law enforcement agencies relating to any investigation involving Mirikitani.
"I am concerned about this situation but I am taking a wait-and-see approach," Yoshimura said. "I haven't had any substantive discussions with my Council colleagues and, anyway, I think that kind of talk is premature and at this point irresponsible."
Yoshimura’s finances
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
still raise eyebrows
Star-BulletinThe Campaign Spending Commission is still not happy with financial reports filed by City Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura.
Robert Watada, commission executive director, said he is giving Yoshimura's campaign another month to come up with an audit.
Yoshimura, in response, said yesterday that Watada had never made it clear that an audit was expected.
Last month, Watada ordered Yoshimura to hire an independent certified public accountant to review the councilman's campaign-spending reports and explain problems in his most recent reports.
Yoshimura, at that time, said the discrepancies occurred because he entrusted the financial details of his campaign books to volunteers.
Yoshimura filed amended spending reports with the commission late last week.
Watada said those reports gave a better detailing of expenditures, but did not include an audit or the receipts attached to the expenditures.
"They did have a certified public accountant redo their report but no audit report (was filed)," Watada said.
Yoshimura yesterday insisted that it was unclear that an audit was expected and that at no time before last week were receipts requested.
"I'm somewhat surprised that they're saying they didn't get what they asked for, so obviously there must have been some miscommunication between our CPA and their staff," Yoshimura said.
He noted that the CPA was hired on the recommendation of commission staff.
The receipts being sought by the commission are readily accessible and no problems are expected in handing them over, Yoshimura said.
The commission first began to look at Yoshimura's campaign finances because of discrepancies in the balances of the electronic and paper reports filed and the unusual number of expenses in a non-election year, Watada said.
Yoshimura said many of the expenses were related to expenditures on community luncheons and donations to nonprofit groups.
