Well, HELL’S BELLS. I’ll print the Spitzer press release below (hat-tip Ryan) but thought it only proper that we break the story here, since we’re the only outlet that’s been covering the shady Fullerton Council races: District 4 candidate Scott Markowitz, by now generally accepted to be a fake-Trumpy candidate meant to bleed votes away from Linda Whitaker, has been charged and arrested for “two felonies falsifying nomination paperwork.” Pretty serious shit, too, I’ll post the press release below after a few more comments and questions.
First. This leaves three candidates in that race: fresh-faced Democrat Jamie Valencia, Zahra-ist establishment Democrat Kitty Jaramillo, and Republican Linda Whitaker. Second. Markowitz’ existence in this race was arranged by Democrat operative Ajay Mohan for the benefit of incumbent Ahmad Zahra – could this spell trouble (beyond embarrassment) for those two? Maybe not, these charges are not for being a fake candidate but for the stupid laziness of not getting your own damn signatures and then swearing that you did. (Remember Webster Guillory?)
Third, nice surprise from DA Todd Spitzer, who first ran in 2018 vowing to crack down on all manner of political corruption (unlike his predecessor Rackauckas) but then did nothing beyond make a huge example of Santa Ana Democrat Roman Reyna for his residence fibbing. And then nothing. Fourth, this was Bushala who pushed Todd’s hand so congratulations to Tony. (And maybe I even helped when I sardonically sang “Even Todd’s awake now” at BoS re. Andrew Do? Maybe just a teeny bit?)
Fifth, this case is an embarrassment to Democrats, as was the Reyna case. Will Todd ever go after a powerful Republican, most of whom are his old friends? (Even if he has refused contributions and endorsements which is good.) I’ve got JUST THE REPUBLICAN in mind, who’s done the EXACT SAME THING as Markowitz and Guillory – lazily let other people get her qualifying signatures and then swear falsely that she got them herself. And that is Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor CAROL GAMBLE, running for re-election to Council. I KNOW TODD KNOWS ABOUT THIS, our RSM correspondent Shawn Gordon has been all over it with him… and Carol’s worthy opponent Keri Lynn Baert SHOULD be the automatic victor. Let’s see if what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, with Spitzer?
Sixth, Why did I say “Hells’ Bells” at the beginning of this story? That’s weird. I’ve never said that before. Maybe because, unconsciously, I was remembering when I played piano at a party at Spitzer’s house back in 2010, and noticed that he had posters of ACDC, which he told me was his favorite band (which is in its turn as weird as Paul Ryan liking Rage Against the Machine.) Well okay then, time for a musical break, and then you can read the press release:
*************************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 15, 2024
Case #24NF2629
Fullerton City Council Candidate Charged with Two Felonies
for Falsifying Nomination Paperwork
Candidate Scott Markowitz is not eligible to take office
if elected in November 5, 2024 Fullerton City Council Ward 4 Election.
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Fullerton City Council candidate for Ward 4 has been charged with felony perjury for falsifying nomination paperwork stating he personally collected the signatures necessary to qualify him for the November 5, 2024, Fullerton City Council election. As a result of the falsified nomination paperwork, candidate Scott Markowitz will not be eligible to serve on the Fullerton City Council should he be elected to the seat.
Ballots have already been printed with Markowitz’ name as a candidate for Fullerton City Council Ward 4. Due to his ineligibility to serve on the City Council, if Markowitz is elected, the city of Fullerton would be forced to hold a special election to elect a candidate eligible to be seated.
City Council candidates are required to sign an attestation under penalty of perjury that they personally collected the signatures necessary to qualify as a candidate for a particular elected office.
Markowitz was arrested by Orange County District Attorney investigators Monday night and booked into the Santa Ana city jail. He has been charged with one felony count of perjury by declaration and one felony count of record of forged or false instrument. He faces a maximum sentence of three years and eight months in state prison if convicted on all counts.
On August 9, 2024, Markowitz signed candidate nomination paperwork under penalty of perjury that he was the circulator of the candidate paperwork and collected the 30 nomination signatures. Anyone over the age of 18 can circulate the nomination paperwork, but the person signing the paperwork must be the same person who witnessed the signatures in person. Markowitz attested under penalty of perjury that he personally witnessed the signatures, but numerous voters who signed Markowitz’ nomination paperwork told district attorney investigators that Markowitz was not the circulator of the paperwork, and he did not witness them signing the nomination papers, rendering the signatures invalid.
“American democracy relies on the absolute integrity of the electoral process,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Voters must have total confidence that every election is being carried out in a fair and unbiased manner. Interference in the electoral process in any manner and at any stage jeopardizes the will of the people being carried out while eroding the trust of voters that their vote counts. As the elected District Attorney of Orange County, I refuse to allow our electoral process to be subverted and exploited by anyone. The decision to file criminal charges against the candidate prior to an election is not a decision I made lightly but given the risk to the electoral process as well as the potential of the City of Fullerton having to pay for a special election should Markowitz be elected, there was no choice but to file criminal charges prior to the election and alert voters of his ineligibility to run for City Council. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office remains fiercely committed to investigating and prosecuting election fraud to ensure the voice of every Orange County resident is heard when they cast their ballot.”
Deputy District Attorney Heather Heslep-Morrissey of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.
Maybe Sharon Kennedy will pop up to tell us all about how “thin” this story is. We’ve known the guy was a fraud since August 8 – the day he committed perjury.
All the signs of a Dem Party conspiracy have been there all along. Bogus nobody, MAGA campaign statement, liberal Dem nominators and then once the ballot statement was submitted the Great Disappearing Act.
Markowitz didn’t do this all by himself. The was obviously a conspiracy. The thought of State Prison might shake a few names loose.
P.S. “Generally accepted?” Who ever believed this poor sucker was legit?
I mean that even Kitty & the Kennedys told me “Yeah that guy does seem fishy. (but but but…)”
Now the whole story will get out. Markowitz won’t go to jai, but he’ll have to tell his tale about who set him up. Right now several names are being bruited about in Fullerton, and of course the ethically challenged Zahra is at the top of the list, and some dude named Thakur.
My own suspicion is that Ada Briceno knows all about this, just like she knew about the fake Tony Castro candidacy 2 years ago, and must have blessed it. They got away with it then and maybe figured it was worth Act II.
The Kennedys couldn’t find their own backsides in the dark, but I bet Jaramillo knew all about this conspiracy. The question is how well she insulated herself. One of her endorsers, Diane Vena signed Markowitz’s nominating papers. Oops!
Still waiting for the Carol Gamble shoe to drop. Waiting… waiting…
BTW, I used the word “conspiracy” deliberately. Other people were involved getting Markowitz to commit perjury. A conspiracy to commit a crime IS a crime. Others should be implicated, Ajay Mohan being Target One.
I’m sure Bushala will be following up with another claim.
BTW 2, the Long Beach MJ Cartel may very well be involved in this. Zahra’s been trying to get them a foothold in Fullerton for several years. Jaramillo would be the third vote.
“Long Beach,” “Marijuana,” and “Cartel” are all terms that evoke Melahat. If you’re right about this (and it’s news to me), maybe Spitzer’s going to have to look into her influence on Zahra?
He should. I have it on excellent authority that Zahra used to refer people to Melahat for her dope lobbying services.
It’s so interesting that (1) she’s not in jail and (2) it’s not clear that any scandalous blow-ups can be ascribed to any beans she’s spilled, and (3) she still seems to be throwing her weight around (it’s just an expression!) behind the scenes. I know that we don’t have the resources to properly cover it but what’s holding back VOC? … … oh. Forget I asked.
Melahat is alive and well and still doing business so this may be true. Word is she still advises Farrah Khan and others. Her sentencing keeps getting pushed back.
And now we know the LB MJ cartel funded a pro-Jaramillo IE to the tune of $60,000. The money was funneled through the national HQ of the grocery store workers’ union in D.C.
No one in Fullerton is giving odds that the Local 324 didn’t come up with the money, or that even the national organization didn’t. Rather, the money is on the MJ lobbyists themselves, which does indeed conjure up images of Melahat Whatshername who is pals with Ahmad Zahra.
Still, Jamie’s lead keeps growing – 45 votes now.
I am not surprised about Zahra. He is an opportunist and lack integrity> He has a history!
Your friends the Kennedy’s are losing it.
But but but, they did it anyway because ANYTHING justifies winning because their cause is right.
There’s a word for that . . .
Carol Gamble did the exact same thing and the DA has had the information for months. This is a REALLY simple investigation. They have her nomination paperwork with her assertion, and we have a half dozen notorized statements that she didn’t collect the paperwork. How freaking hard is this? I guess the years of Carol schmoozing with the DA paid off.
Maybe the AG would be interested.
I’m not sure that PAGA (the Private Attorney Genera Act) could apply here — but I know people who would know. The first step is that local law enforcement refuses to take the case.
LA’s been clearing out its corrupt officials like fire ants. I hope that this isn’t what Todd really meant by “NoLAinOC”! C’mon, Todd!
It will be interesting to see how many Republican politicians Mr Spitzer puts in Jail.(like Do).
None.
Do is being prosecuted in Federal Court.
Should we start a pool as to what day Trump pardons him?
This is why you always need state charges as well….
Well, if you’re talking about betting, I bet $10 that Trump has no idea who Do is and doesn’t care about him. And who would pester the Orange Monster about a pariah all OC Republicans are trying to run away from? So my bet is 2025 goes by with no Do pardon.
When they go low, we were supposed to go high. What happened?
I always preferred Eric Holder’s version: When they go low, KICK ‘EM!
https://ocgov.granicus.com/player/clip/5201?view_id=8&redirect=true
Vern’s performance is at the 1:43:00 point on the lower time bar.
As a conservative, I was shocked at the Do allegations. However, I must admit that Nelson was the highlight of that BoS meeting.
Sidhu sentencing continued by way of stipulation and order filed on 9/27/2024 and issued on 9/30/2024. Hearing continued from 12/13/2024 to March 28, 2025.
No change re Melahat’s sentencing date.
When’s Melahat again?
I’ve had Melahat written in my date book for Dec. 13, this Friday. Is that right?
Jamie Valencia beat Jaramillo by 53 votes.
No dope for you!