Anaheim Mayor Resigns Amid Federal Corruption Probe

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In the midst of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation into corruption, Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu (a Republican), resigned Tuesday. The investigation is over the land sale of Angels Stadium — a probe that’s already resulted in money laundering charges being brought against one of Sidhu’s political allies, former Anaheim Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Ament.

An FBI agent claimed that Sidhu provided inside information to the Angels in an affidavit. This was in an effort to negotiate a deal that would see $1 million in campaign contributions from Angels executives.

“I believe SIDHU was motivated by the desire for financial compensation in the form of campaign contributions from individuals in exchange for facilitating the stadium agreement on better terms for Angels.

Paul Meyer was his attorney and wrote a letter asking Robert Fabela, City Attorney, for assistance in defending the mayor.

“A fair and thorough investigation will prove that Mayor Harry Sidhu did not leak secret information in hopes of a later campaign contribution,” Meyer said.

“Mayor Sidhu has always, as his foremost priority, acted in the best interests of the City of Anaheim,” he later added.
Politico reports Sidhu also has problems.

According to the FBI, Sidhu could have been convicted of several crimes during the course of the story. Sidhu has not been charged. According to the FBI, Sidhu was able to secure a seat on the stadium negotiating panel and then sent confidential information to Angels through an intermediary from the Chamber of Commerce. Sidhu allegedly spoke repeatedly about the half-million dollars he was expecting from the Angels as campaign cash in return for a stadium agreement. According to the affidavit, Sidhu registered an Arizona helicopter in order to avoid a California sales taxes of $15,000

The city council and other Democrat elected officials demanded that he resign last week.