Caroline Valdez, a former executive assistant to Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove, is under investigation as to whether she misappropriated thousands of dollars for a vacation and for personal items, according to this Washington Post story.

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From the Post story:

Authorities are investigating whether a former executive assistant in the U.S. House misappropriated thousands of dollars to finance a vacation and personal items, as part of a widening effort to determine whether congressional accounts are inadequately monitored, according to two sources familiar with the inquiry.

At issue in the ongoing probe by the House inspector general is the role of a former assistant to Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is not yet complete. The aide, whom Sanchez says was dismissed, reimbursed the lawmaker by nearly $10,000 around the same time that her work for Sanchez ended, according to congressional records.

Caroline Valdez made a series of four unusual payments to her boss’s office at the end of 2006, according to disbursement books maintained by the clerk of the House. Two of those transactions were labeled “reimb: payment error.” Valdez did not respond to several cellphone messages seeking comment.

The reimbursements to Sanchez came during a financial quarter when the lawmaker placed three staffers — including her scheduler and legislative director — temporarily on the House payroll of her sister, fellow California Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D), records show.

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