Why hasn't San Diego Creeper resigned? Because he's got bigger problems than sexual harassment. Federal probe may hurt Filner even more than his need to hug

[jmyrlefuller]

http://dailycaller.com/2013/08/09/serious-criminal-probe-may-be-keeping-filner-in-office/

Serious criminal probe may be keeping Filner in office
by Tim Kavanaugh
August 9, 2013

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner’s endurance in the face of mounting sexual harassment accusations may be driven by his need to get out of an even bigger problem: a federal criminal investigation that has received little attention from the national media.

The San Diego Creeper is the subject of an FBI probe of what looks like a quid-pro-quo arrangement with a local developer. In June local media obtained a voicemail Tom Story of Sunroad Centrum Partners left for various city council members regarding a $100,000 “gift” he made to two public projects Filner favored.

At the time, Sunroad was looking to use public land for a project in Kearney Mesa. Story’s strikingly direct voicemail indicates Filner agreed to give Sunroad the easement in exchange for the donation.

“I’d like the council member to know that we have reached an agreement with the mayor’s office,” Story’s message said. “We have paid him the money that was requested and was told that the mayor would support the override.”

The FBI will not comment on open investigations.

But in early July Brent Seibert of U-T San Diego reported that FBI agents had visited more than one city council member about the $100,000 in checks. Other observers of America’s Finest City report that Filner may be deposed in the potential extortion probe August 19.

Filner returned the $100,000 after the news broke, and he claimed he did not realize it was a quid pro quo. While this story of old-fashioned City Hall shenanigans did not fully drop out of the news cycle, it has not received the national attention that is coming the mayor’s way over claims of serial workplace groping and lewd comments.

Whether the federal probe ranks above or below the sexual harassment claims — which have now been made by a total of 13 women — in the list of Filner’s troubles is not clear. But it has given rise to a popular theory about why the mayor persists in office despite overwhelming popular opposition, abandonment by most of the city council and calls for his resignation from higher up in the Democratic Party hierarchy.

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http://dailycaller.com/2013/08/09/serious-criminal-probe-may-be-keeping-filner-in-office/2/

[Rapunzel]

Thanks for posting this, I was going to and got caught up arguing with O.

[Formerly Once-Ler]

Yes.  Thanks for posting this.  I knew Filner had no shame but staying in the race is stupid, unless there is some other kind of payoff.  This helps complete the puzzle.