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FBI searches
Mirikitani’s city
hall office
Boxes of materials are taken
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
from the office of the
city councilman
Star-BulletinFBI agents with search warrants took boxes of materials from the office of Councilman Andy Mirikitani and other locations in connection with "an ongoing investigation" involving the councilman.
FBI spokesman John Gillies confirmed that the searches took place Friday.
He declined to say why Mirikitani is being investigated. 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 $9,408.40 "adjustment" on June 16. That aide was dismissed by Mirikitani in December.
When they received the bonuses, Mirikitani allegedly asked the employees to return part of the money, sources say.
Mirikitani could not be reached for comment this morning. But in a written release last month he explained that the bonuses were paid because he had money in his City Council salary account left over because of unfilled positions.
"Every year since 1991, I have consistently expended the lowest staff salaries of all the council members and as a result each year I have always been able to give larger merit bonuses of the remaining funds to compensate staff based on merit," Mirikitani wrote.
Each City Council member is given $165,000 each year to pay for up to four, full-time employees, not including a secretary.
Clayton Wong, head of support services for the Council, said six of the nine Council members gave bonuses to staffers last year. None, however, were as high as those given by Mirikitani.
Neither of the two former staff members would comment about the allegations.
One of the employees and that employee's spouse contributed $4,000, the maximum allowed, to Mirikitani's campaign committee in the latter part of 1999.
Robert Watada, executive director of the state Campaign Spending Commission, said employees of elected officials can contribute to their boss's campaign funds and many often do.
The commission would only be concerned, he said, if the amount exceeded the maximum allowed or if there were allegations that the contribution was made under coercion.
Mirikitani said information about the bonuses are being circulated "by two disgruntled employees to discredit and defame me."
Two fired aides, including one of those who received a bonus, filed complaints in December with the city's equal employment opportunity officer. They allege that Mirikitani verbally abused them and made comments to them that were sexually and racially derogatory.
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