Nunez on Spending: 'Everything I've Done is Above Board'

Oct. 12, 2007 (KABC-TV) (KABC) -- An embattled L.A. lawmaker is firing back at critics. State Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, responds to accusations he misused his campaign funds on foreign junkets, dinners, and lavish gifts.

"There's been no problems with any of my reporting, in any way, shape or form," said Nunez.

Nunez says his expenses were audited by an auditor and reviewed by a lawyer. He says he is confident he has done nothing wrong.

"Absolutely not. Everything I've done is above board. It's legal," said Nunez.

One week after he ran off to catch a plane instead of responding to allegations he misspent campaign funds on lavish trips around the world, Nunez says his expenses were legitimate.

"I've been very careful to spend very little of taxpayer dollars when I do trade missions and educational missions. That is why you see a lot of those expenses on my campaign reports," said Nunez.

The L.A. Democrat says he's talked about California's landmark global warming efforts, learned about high speed rail, and researched alternative fuels on these trips. The huge restaurant bills at some of the world's finest establishments included foreign dignitaries and their staff, where asking to split the bill would be embarrassing. The $2,500 at Louis Vuitton in Paris were for gifts.

"There is a common protocol thing when you go on these types of trips, that you provide gifts to your guests," said Nunez. "When you run out of gifts, you have to find gifts somewhere."

The champion of the working poor who came from humble roots says his quote about living a middle class lifestyle was taken out of context.

Nunez: "Middle class is a tough population to target or to nail down because it depends on who you talk to."

Miranda: "But, Mr. Speaker, you and your wife make $300,000 a year. That's not middle class."

Nunez: "Can I tell you something? I don't know that it's middle class or not, I think I'm very successful."

Successful enough to buy a $1.2 million dollar home in Sacramento and to rent a room in his chief fundraiser's penthouse while he visits the Los Angeles district he represents.

The California Term Limits Defense Fund filed a complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission this week, asking them to scrutinize Nunez's expenses. They want term limits to stay the same, while Nunez is spearheading a move to change the number of years state politicians can stay in office.

"What we're saying here is, you are asking the voters to keep you in office for six more years by extending the terms, yet you're not answering all our questions about spending habits," said Bob Adney of the California Term Limits Defense Fund.

Adney also has questions about that room Nunez rents when he visits his Los Angeles district.

Critics wonder what people donating to the campaign fund of one of the state's most powerful politicians buys.

"My donors don't get any more special treatment than my constituents," said Nunez.

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