Nuñez faces more questions about spending
SACRAMENTO — Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez, who drew heavy criticism last fall for using campaign funds for world travel and luxury purchases, continued to spend thousands of dollars on airfare and gifts in the last six months, according to financial reports made public Thursday.
The reports show the Los Angeles Democrat spent $20,916 on Delta Airlines, $2,701 at Falconhead boot company, $579 for a "meeting" at a wine bar, and $4,074 at Nordstrom, Macy's and Williams-Sonoma stores between July 1 and the end of December.
In an Oct. 5 article, The Times reported that Nuñez had spent tens of thousands of dollars on overseas travel, wine and high-end retailers including Louis Vuitton in Paris. The Times culled the expenditures, which Nuñez initially refused to explain, from public reports that tracked campaign account activity through June.
According to the latest report, filed with the Secretary of State to comply with a Thursday deadline, Nuñez continued after June to spend thousands of dollars from his "Friends of Fabian Nuñez" committee on purchases with no clear connection to governmental or political business.
In his latest report, Nuñez described many purchases, including those at Falconhead, as "gifts to dignitaries/public officials/staff."
Falconhead says on its website that it has "the most extensive collection of hand-made original boots, belts and buckles" in the world.
According to the spending documents, Nuñez also personally paid his campaign account $16,124 on Oct. 19, describing the payment as "reimbursement for travel." On Nov. 20, he reimbursed the political committee an additional $300 for travel.
Reached late Thursday, Nuñez spokesman Steve Maviglio said he did not have the details on Nuñez's travel and could not comment on why the speaker reimbursed his campaign account.
"The reimbursements raise the question of whether he is repaying the campaign out of an abundance of caution or because the expenditures were not proper," said Robert Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles.
Regarding some of the other expenses, Maviglio said Nuñez bought Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a $2,701 belt buckle from Falconhead, which the governor returned because the value exceeds state gift limits.
Most of the remaining expenses, Maviglio said, were for meetings and gifts for staff and the 80-member California Assembly.
