Current, Former Council Staffers Testify Before Grand Jury
FBI Raided Councilmen's Offices Last Month
POSTED: 2:45 pm PDT June 13, 2003
UPDATED: 2:48 pm PDT June 13, 2003
SAN DIEGO -- More current and former San Diego City Council staffers turned up at the Federal Building Friday to testify before the grand jury probing possible public corruption at City Hall.
Last month, FBI agents descended on City Hall to search the offices of Councilmen Michael Zucchet, Charles Lewis and Ralph Inzunza, who have all denied wrongdoing.Simultaneous searches were carried out at a local strip club and two in Las Vegas, all owned by Michael Galardi.This morning, Lewis' economic development and land use policy director, Ronald Lacey, was seen entering the Federal Building.Jennifer Bates Navarra, who was former Councilman George Stevens' press secretary, also arrived Friday morning. Navarra now works for Assemblywoman Shirley Horton, R-Chula Vista, as does Stevens.Many of those testifying before the grand jury in recent weeks have used alternate exits to avoid reporters when they leave.
Stevens, (pictured, left), was among those testifying last Friday. He left the City Council last year due to term limits and was replaced by his chief of staff, Lewis.Stevens, who has met with Lance Malone, a Galardi lobbyist and key figure in the probe, told reporters last week that he didn't believe he was a target of the investigation.The probe reportedly focuses on whether public officials were bribed with tens of thousands of dollars to change San Diego city laws restricting strip club operations.The grand jury previously heard from Councilman Jim Madaffer and a number of other City Council staffers. Other council members have told reporters they voluntarily talked to investigators working on the probe.
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Stevens, (pictured, left), was among those testifying last Friday. He left the City Council last year due to term limits and was replaced by his chief of staff, Lewis.Stevens, who has met with Lance Malone, a Galardi lobbyist and key figure in the probe, told reporters last week that he didn't believe he was a target of the investigation.The probe reportedly focuses on whether public officials were bribed with tens of thousands of dollars to change San Diego city laws restricting strip club operations.The grand jury previously heard from Councilman Jim Madaffer and a number of other City Council staffers. Other council members have told reporters they voluntarily talked to investigators working on the probe. Previous Stories:
- May 22, 2003: Former Councilman Met With Strip Club Lobbyist
- June 6, 2003: Former Councilman's 2002 Calendar Missing
- June 6, 2003: Stevens Testifies Before Grand Jury
- May 21, 2003: Local Strip Club Tied To Mob?
- May 20, 2003: Were Strippers Tipped-Off About Inspections?
- May 20, 2003: Constituents Comment On City Council Investigation
- May 19, 2003: Councilmen Claim They've Done Nothing Wrong
- May 19, 2003: Grand Jury Resumes City Council Probe
- May 18, 2003: Federal Grand Jury Hears Council Member Testify
- May 16, 2003: Strip Club Warrant Details Revealed
- May 15, 2003: Mayor: Despite Raid, Business Of City Continues
- May 15, 2003: 3 City Council Offices, Strip Club Raided By FBI
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