A Perhaps Not So Cryptic Invitation from Senator Rod Wright

Sacramento lobbyists received the following e-mail invitation November 24: 

Dear Friend,

I would like to invite you to join me for a briefing on Wednesday, December 2nd.

I would like to discuss with you a pending matter and answer any of your questions and enlist your support.

I know this message may seem a bit cryptic but I beg your indulgence and ask that you join me for a light lunch at noon on Wednesday December 2nd at: 

California Cable and Telecommunications Association Office?1001 K Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento. 

Please reply to this email with you RSVP or contact Cine at (323) 708-5831, if you have any questions.

Roderick D. Wright

Senator, 25th District

–Sent by: 

Cine D. Ivery

On behalf of Senator Roderick D. Wright

25th Senate District

(323) 708-5831 

Wright is being investigated to determine whether he actually lives in the 25^th Senate District or the neighboring 26^th District.

On September 22, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office searched two homes, one in the 25^th District and another in the 26th as part of the investigation.

It is not uncommon for lawmakers under investigation or facing other legal issues to create legal defense funds, paid for with contributions from interest groups. Such funds do not have the limits on the size of contributions regular campaign funds do. 

For example, Sen. Ron Calderon, a Montebello Democrat, created a legal defense fund to combat a threatened recount by Assemblyman Rudy Bermudez, his challenger for the 30th Senate district in 2006.

Although the recall never materialized, Calderon raised money for the fund until terminating it on March 31, 2009

Given the pending investigation of his residency, Wright’s admittedly oblique invitation suggests he is taking the first step to create his own defense fund.

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