Supervisor Ed Jew Leaves The Country For China

May 23 - KGO (KGO) -- The San Francisco supervisor at the center of what is now two investigations, one by the FBI, the other by the city has left the country. Ed Jew took off for China early Wednesday. His attorney tells ABC7 news the trip was planned long ago, but he's happy his chatty client is out of the limelight.

Supervisor Ed Jew attended yesterday's board meeting, but you won't see him around city hall for the next few days. He took a red eye to China.

His attorney, Stephen Gruel says Jew planned the trip long ago and gruel insisted Jew go because he's been talking too much.

Steven Gruel, Ed Jew's Attorney: "He has this basic need.. this instinctive need to explain this situation to whomever will listen, his constituents, to anyone at city hall, like he did the day of the searches, and that just makes my job more difficult."

Jew's City Hall office and private properties were raided by the FBI last week. He told the chronicle the feds were investigating $40,000 dollars in cash he accepted from owners of quickly tapioca franchises. Jew reportedly claimed the money was to pay a consultant he recommended to help the stores with city permits.

Jew's attorney says the supervisor exercised bad judgment.

Steven Gruel, Ed Jew's Attorney: "But poor judgment is not the same thing as criminal intent. you can't be convicted for being stupid. "

On top of the federal probe, Jew is now the subject of a city investigation to determine if he really lives within his elected district.

Today City Attorney Dennis Herrera officially requested copies of Jew's tax returns, his utility bills, telephone bills and other documents. Meanwhile, Jew asked Herrera to launch a probe into who leaked to the media that nobody was using water at his district house and issued a statement saying, "saying a water department employee violated my father's privacy, to cast doubt on my official place of residence."

Some of the supervisor's colleagues say with these mounting legal issues, now is not the time for ed Jew to be out of the country.

Jake McGoldrick, San Francisco Supervisor: "He ought to clear that part up real fast.. forget about going anywhere other than right here in San Francisco."

Supervisor Aaron Peskin even alerted what he calls the proper authorities, apparently concerned Jew might be a flight risk.

Aaron Peskin, Board President: "Given the on-going issues out there that it was important that authorities knew that and they apparently did."

City attorney Herrera has requested Supervisor Jew submit the documents about his residence by next Tuesday, but Jew is not expected back at City Hall by then. As far as supervisor Jew's request for an investigation into media leaks about water usage at his home, the city attorney has declined. saying the information is public record.

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