High Court Asked to Restore Charges
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SANTA ANA — Prosecutors on Monday asked the state Supreme Court to reinstate charges that two Orange County supervisors neglected to investigate proposed county borrowings that contributed to the county’s bankruptcy.
Supervisors William G. Steiner and Roger R. Stanton voted to approve the issuance of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of bonds, and the proceeds were then used on risky investments that helped plunge the county into bankruptcy Dec. 6, 1994.
The district attorney’s office, which is prosecuting the elected officials on misconduct charges for their roles in the bankruptcy, was dealt a setback in March, when a judge ruled that the supervisors enjoyed “legislative immunity” from prosecution over matters put to a vote before them.
The 4th District Court of Appeal refused to review the Superior Court judge’s ruling. Prosecutor Wallace J. Wade said his office is now asking the state’s high court to review it.
Steiner and Stanton, the only two supervisors who remain in office since the bankruptcy filing, have denied any wrongdoing.
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