Arthur K Snyder

In a ruling that could hamstring the prosecution of former Los Angeles Councilman Art Snyder--and casts broad doubt on enforcement of state political reform laws--a judge said Monday that it appears lobbyists who violate campaign fund-raising rules have been exempted from criminal charges.

In a ruling that could hamstring the prosecution of former Los Angeles Councilman Art Snyder--and casts broad doubt on enforcement of state political reform laws--a judge said Monday that it appears lobbyists who violate campaign fund-raising rules have been exempted from criminal charges.

Over objections of prosecutors, a judge Wednesday agreed to return former Los Angeles Councilman Arthur K. Snyder's passport and permit him to visit his daughter overseas while felony political money-laundering charges are pending against him. Superior Court Judge John Ouderkirk, after questioning Snyder under oath, said he does not believe the 62-year-old former lawmaker, now a prominent City Hall lobbyist, is likely to flee or has "a plot to go live in some foreign country."

Former Los Angeles Councilman Arthur K. Snyder, facing political money-laundering charges, asked a judge Tuesday for permission to leave the country for a visit with his daughter, before he has surgery for a recently diagnosed cancer condition. Prosecutors in the case said they would oppose the request on the grounds that the lawmaker-turned-lobbyist, who faces possible prison time if convicted in an allegedly vast scheme to funnel illegal donations to local and state politicians, could flee.

Saying he needs more time to consider the case, a judge on Monday put off deciding whether to throw out charges of illegal campaign funding against lobbyist and former Los Angeles City Councilman Arthur K. Snyder. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge John Ouderkirk set an April 24 hearing date, when he is expected to announce whether prosecutors can go forward with their case against Snyder, his wife and five other defendants. Snyder, 62, was indicted Jan.

Prosecutors believe a 1990 memo that former Los Angeles Councilman Arthur K. Snyder wrote to a major lobbying client shows that the ex-lawmaker was centrally involved in a vast criminal scheme that generated about $200,000 in illegal campaign contributions, according to court records unsealed Friday.

Prosecutors believe a 1990 memo that former Los Angeles Councilman Arthur K. Snyder wrote to a major lobbying client shows that the ex-lawmaker was centrally involved in a vast criminal scheme that generated about $200,000 in illegal campaign contributions, according to court records unsealed Friday.

Former Los Angeles Councilman Arthur Snyder surrendered to authorities Wednesday and made a somber court appearance on charges that he conspired with business associates and relatives to funnel thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions to local and state politicians. The legendary City Hall lawmaker-turned-lobbyist, who served 18 years before stepping down in 1985, spoke only once--assuring Superior Court Judge John Ouderkirk that he understood his rights.

Former Los Angeles Councilman Arthur Snyder, a fabled and influential City Hall figure for nearly three decades, has been indicted along with several associates for allegedly conspiring to funnel thousands of dollars in illegal campaign funds to local and state politicians, sources close to the case said Thursday.

Signaling that a campaign money-laundering investigation has expanded to include suspicions of more serious criminal activity, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office seized records Tuesday at the home and law offices of former City Councilman Arthur Snyder, a prominent lobbyist and political fund-raiser.