Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen has agreed to pay $5,000 in fines for campaign finance violations, with the state Fair Political Practices Commission scheduled to give final approval to the deal Nov. Dec. 13.
In the wake of the February special election, which courts determined Nguyen won by three votes, the new supervisor improperly accepted $12,500 in contributions for a legal defense fund.
– Martin Wisckol
County law does not permit separate legal defense funds for county candidates, and the contributions exceeded the campaign contribution limit.
Nguyen had acknowledged last spring that she had accepted the money and put it into the account, saying she did so on the advice of her attorney. She said that when her attorney, Phil Greer, determined that such an account was not permitted, the money was returned.
Had the issue not been resolved, Nguyen might have faced a more costly civil suit from opponent Trung Nguyen, who narrowly lost the February election. If 90 days pass from the time of the FPPC complaint with no action, such a suit can be filed.
Trung Nguyen still has a complaint pending with the FPPC, alleging that Janet Nguyen never paid the $12,500.
“We’re gratified that the Fair Political Practices Commission prosecuted her,” said Mike Schroeder, an attorney for Trung Nguyen.
– Martin Wisckol
