Lawyers fought corruption, then lost their jobs
September 29, 2011|Scott Maxwell, TAKING NAMES
When last we checked on Attorney General Pam Bondi, she was being investigated for forcing out two of her top-producing investigators, and legislators had asked her to produce records to justify her actions.
Well, the investigation is still going, and state officials are tight-lipped about when it might be complete.
But public records are starting to trickle out. And if there was a smoking gun to justify these ousters, there's no paperwork to show it. To the contrary, state Rep. Darren Soto said his reading of the documents show that Bondi's office ousted "forceful champions who were slugging it out in the trenches on behalf of Floridians."
"They were doing a good job — and should have been able to keep it."
"They" refers to June Clarkson and Theresa Edwards — two assistant AG's who made national news for their zeal and success in the world of foreclosure fraud.
The determined duo uncovered fraudulent documents, forged signatures and even fictional bank officers.
Their most heralded accomplishment: a $2 million settlement with one company accused of improperly foreclosing upon Floridians' homes. Bondi's own office credited the settlement with "triggering a nationwide review of such practices."
Yet at the height of their success, Bondi's office forced them out.
Clarkson and Edwards said the reasons were clear: They were doing their jobs too well. And the well-funded companies they investigated were complaining.
Bondi's office disagreed, saying the two had demonstrated a lack of professionalism and judgment. But Bondi had offered little evidence to back up the claim. In fact, the two had stellar job reviews.
So Soto, D-Orlando, and other legislators filed a records request, asking for anything that might justify the expulsions.
What Bondi released this week was thin. The lead document was a complaint from an attorney representing a company being investigated for something else. Specifically, noted defense attorney Barry Richard complained that Clarkson and Edwards were too adversarial and unprofessional, adding that he believed they had "a pre-judgment that my client (Cash4Gold) was engaged in some type of wrongdoing."
There also were complaints from another attorney saying the two hadn't produced public records he requested. And some office emails complained about a lack of internal communication.
Sandwiched between those e-mails was a letter from the two women's boss, nominating them for a statewide award for their "dedication," "perseverance" and groundbreaking success.
You can see why they needed to go.
The records paint a picture of two aggressive investigators who netted taxpayers a history-making settlement — and who ruffled a few feathers along the way.
Soto summed up the gripes as a handful of "small miscues," along with some "whining" from those being investigated.
(And by the way, I don't care if my watchdogs don't bow or curtsy before those they're investigating.)
Soto and other legislators are still waiting for more records — including precisely how much money Clarkson and Edwards netted taxpayers and the status of all the cases they were pursuing when asked to resign. Also still to come is the investigative report that Bondi requested from the Department of Financial Services after the ousters made national news. But Soto said his main concern is that the office sworn to protect the rights of consumers is more interested in kowtowing to the whims of the businesses it should be investigating.
"The AG's office is there to protect Floridians," Soto said. "And that's what these two attorneys were doing. Believe me, there are plenty of people up in Tallahassee looking after the businesses."
smaxwell@tribune.com or 407-420-6141
September 29, 2011|Scott Maxwell, TAKING NAMES
When last we checked on Attorney General Pam Bondi, she was being investigated for forcing out two of her top-producing investigators, and legislators had asked her to produce records to justify her actions.
Well, the investigation is still going, and state officials are tight-lipped about when it might be complete.
But public records are starting to trickle out. And if there was a smoking gun to justify these ousters, there's no paperwork to show it. To the contrary, state Rep. Darren Soto said his reading of the documents show that Bondi's office ousted "forceful champions who were slugging it out in the trenches on behalf of Floridians."
"They were doing a good job — and should have been able to keep it."
"They" refers to June Clarkson and Theresa Edwards — two assistant AG's who made national news for their zeal and success in the world of foreclosure fraud.
The determined duo uncovered fraudulent documents, forged signatures and even fictional bank officers.
Their most heralded accomplishment: a $2 million settlement with one company accused of improperly foreclosing upon Floridians' homes. Bondi's own office credited the settlement with "triggering a nationwide review of such practices."
Yet at the height of their success, Bondi's office forced them out.
Clarkson and Edwards said the reasons were clear: They were doing their jobs too well. And the well-funded companies they investigated were complaining.
Bondi's office disagreed, saying the two had demonstrated a lack of professionalism and judgment. But Bondi had offered little evidence to back up the claim. In fact, the two had stellar job reviews.
So Soto, D-Orlando, and other legislators filed a records request, asking for anything that might justify the expulsions.
What Bondi released this week was thin. The lead document was a complaint from an attorney representing a company being investigated for something else. Specifically, noted defense attorney Barry Richard complained that Clarkson and Edwards were too adversarial and unprofessional, adding that he believed they had "a pre-judgment that my client (Cash4Gold) was engaged in some type of wrongdoing."
There also were complaints from another attorney saying the two hadn't produced public records he requested. And some office emails complained about a lack of internal communication.
Sandwiched between those e-mails was a letter from the two women's boss, nominating them for a statewide award for their "dedication," "perseverance" and groundbreaking success.
You can see why they needed to go.
The records paint a picture of two aggressive investigators who netted taxpayers a history-making settlement — and who ruffled a few feathers along the way.
Soto summed up the gripes as a handful of "small miscues," along with some "whining" from those being investigated.
(And by the way, I don't care if my watchdogs don't bow or curtsy before those they're investigating.)
Soto and other legislators are still waiting for more records — including precisely how much money Clarkson and Edwards netted taxpayers and the status of all the cases they were pursuing when asked to resign. Also still to come is the investigative report that Bondi requested from the Department of Financial Services after the ousters made national news. But Soto said his main concern is that the office sworn to protect the rights of consumers is more interested in kowtowing to the whims of the businesses it should be investigating.
"The AG's office is there to protect Floridians," Soto said. "And that's what these two attorneys were doing. Believe me, there are plenty of people up in Tallahassee looking after the businesses."
smaxwell@tribune.com or 407-420-6141
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