Pay to Play Updates - December 2022

An excerpt of Dentons’ Political Law Playbook.

Real Estate Developer Convicted of Making Over $1 Million in Bribes to Former LA City Councilman – Three family members of former Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar testified against him last month in a trial against development company Shen Zhen New World I, which was accused of bribing Huizar to support its building of an L.A. skyscraper. The $1 million in alleged bribes purportedly included Las Vegas getaways, private jets, lavish hotels, and alcohol, witnesses testified. After less than three hours of deliberations, the jury found Shen Zhen New World I guilty of five counts of bribery and three counts of wire fraud. Another development company was also previously convicted of paying Huizar $500,000 in cash. Despite prosecutors’ accusations that he used his office to secure over $1.5 million in illegal payments from developers seeking city approval for L.A. projects, Huizar maintains that he performed no official acts of significance for developers. Huizar left office in 2020 and has resided abroad since 2018. His trial is scheduled to commence in February 2023.

About the Political Law Playbook

Dentons’ Political Law Playbook is a monthly update on the most important developments in the areas of political law, government ethics, campaign finance, lobbying and election law. Each edition of Political Law Playbook will cast a spotlight on the unique issues at the intersection of law, policy and politics and give you a window into how the Dentons Political Law, Ethics and Disclosure team can help you navigate the compliance challenges you face.

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bribes, California, LA city council

About Benjamin Keane

Ben Keane is a Partner in the Washington, DC and Atlanta, GA offices of Dentons and co-head of the firm’s Political Law, Ethics and Disclosure Team. Mr. Keane focuses his practice on the representation of elected officials, political candidates, PACs, SuperPACs, political parties, corporations, non-profit organizations and other entities with regard to federal, state and local election law, campaign finance, lobbying, pay-to-play, and ethics matters. He regularly counsels businesses, trade associations and other non-profits on the establishment and maintenance of successful political law compliance frameworks. Additionally, Mr. Keane assists clients across the country with political law investigation and audit matters involving federal, state and local government authorities, and frequently counsels presidential nominees, appointees and other federal officials on confirmation and ethics matters.

About Michael Zolandz

Mike Zolandz is the chair of Dentons' Federal Regulatory and Compliance practice, and serves as the Managing Partner for Dentons’ Washington, DC office. Mike focuses his practice on advising clients on their most critical and complex trade compliance and foreign investment projects, specializing in cross-border transactions and regulations related to international commerce.

About C. Randall Nuckolls

Randy Nuckolls is a partner Dentons’ Washington, D.C. office and is a member of the Public Policy practice. He has more than thirty years of experience working on federal policy issues.

About Michael Pfeifer

Michael Pfeifer is member of Dentons' Political Law, Ethics and Disclosure team. The focus of his practice is providing lobbying, campaign finance, and government ethics compliance counsel and representation to trade associations, political action committees (PACs), corporations and other business entities, non-profit organizations and elected officials at the federal, state and local levels.

About Merrill Weber

Merrill M. Weber is an associate in Dentons’ Washington D.C. office and member of the Political Law, Ethics and Disclosure team. Her practice focuses on providing counsel on state, federal, and local lobbying, campaign finance, and government ethics compliance issues to clients including trade associations, political action committees (PACs), corporations and other business entities, and non-profit organizations.