Assemblyman Nolan to Run Again Despite Indictment : Campaign: Glendale Republican predicts he will be acquitted of federal corruption charges.
Predicting that he will be acquitted of federal corruption charges before Election Day, Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) announced Friday that he will seek reelection to the state Assembly.
“Obviously, this will be a tougher election for me than previous ones,†Nolan told a group of supporters at a $10-a-plate breakfast in Burbank.
“While it is unfair that the federal government has dragged this case out for almost six years, at least I’ll be able to clear my name before the election,†he said.
A federal grand jury indicted Nolan last April on six counts of racketeering, extortion, conspiracy and money laundering for using his office to solicit campaign contributions. The charges stem from a 1988 sting operation in which Nolan and Sen. Frank Hill of Whittier were captured on videotape accepting checks from an undercover FBI agent.
FBI agents posed as businessmen attempting to win support for legislation that would enable them to set up a shrimp processing plant in Sacramento. The assemblyman allegedly accepted two undated checks for $5,000 from the agent.
Nolan has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled to begin March 21 and is expected to last six to 10 weeks.
At his campaign kickoff Friday, Nolan said his campaign would focus on matters important to his constituents, not his own legal troubles.
“The trial will be behind me,†Nolan said. “I’ll be cleared and I’ll be able to talk about the issues that people care about, which are violent crime, attracting jobs to the state and improving our educational system.â€
Since the indictment, Nolan’s supporters have charged that his prosecution is politically motivated and have questioned the lengthy delay in filing charges. Although the sting was disclosed in 1988, Nolan was not indicted for nearly five years.
His contributors apparently have not been daunted by the charges. During the second half of 1993, Nolan collected $203,236 in campaign contributions.
But political consultant Marc Litchman, whose clients are usually Democrats, said the indictment and the subsequent political fallout have made Nolan vulnerable and could hurt his chances for reelection--regardless of the outcome of the trial.
“I think he’s in a lot of trouble,†Litchman said.
Voters “have had enough of this greaseball stuff in Sacramento where people are taking large contributions and doing things for special interest groups,†he said.
Even if Nolan’s actions are not found to be criminal, “the voters may pass a further judgment, which is that it’s improper.â€
But in this decidedly conservative district, Nolan is the hometown favorite--a factor that may influence voters more than the indictment, said corporate political consultant Paul Clarke.
“His presence has been felt everywhere in the district for the past 15 years,†Clarke said. “He was a kid who grew up there, went to high school there, and he went to college locally. Pat really never left that neighborhood.â€
Nolan was first elected in 1978 and is serving his eighth term in office. Because of term limits he is eligible to serve only one additional term.
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