Aitken releases statement on Sidhu Federal Probe

Anaheim, CA – Consumer advocate and former federal prosecutor Ashleigh Aitken, who is the Democratic Party endorsed candidate for Anaheim Mayor, released the following statement regarding the FBI corruption probe in to Mayor Harry Sidhu:

“As a former federal prosecutor, I have witnessed and fought against acts of public corruption. I am saddened that what was previously perceived by many as incompetence appears to be conscious acts of fraud, greed, and deception.

This was a fraud perpetrated against our city servants and a majority of our city council. Our Mayor chose to be the “sole” negotiator for the city, enabled secret meetings, and betrayed our taxpayers.

I and many others including our State Senator Tom Umberg, our former Mayor and Assemblyman Tom Daly, and our former Mayor Tom Tait, as well as leading members of our under-served communities have consistently opposed the secretive “process” as well as the “result”.

We stand by our assertions that the price negotiated by the Mayor was millions of dollars short of its actual value.

A “Restart” is the only way to clear the air and assure our citizens that any ultimate sale will have be done with integrity, honesty, and open hearings.

Why should Anaheim citizens’ most valuable asset be surrendered while we face economic hardship? Already, increased trash pick-up fees are being imposed on us by a Mayor who buys a helicopter and avoids paying taxes himself.”

ABOUT ASHLEIGH AITKEN
Raised in Anaheim, Ashleigh Aitken has been fighting on behalf of local families for twenty years. As a federal prosecutor in Los Angeles and Orange County, Ashleigh prosecuted violent crimes, worked to combat illegal firearms distribution, and put fraudsters and child predators behind bars. Now in private practice, Ashleigh fights to get justice for her clients. Ashleigh has worked pro bono to aid homeless veterans, victims of domestic violence, expand free legal services for our veterans and military families, and to protect the Orange County Fairgrounds.

Ashleigh currently serves on the Leadership team of United Way’s End Homelessness OC, working to bring more resources to Orange County neighborhoods to combat homelessness and build housing. In 2012, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Ashleigh to serve on the Orange County Fair Board, culminating in her service as Chairwoman in 2015. Ashleigh has served as the President of the Orange County Bar Association, where she established a Veterans & Military Families Committee to increase pro bono legal support for veterans and their loved ones. For two terms, Ashleigh served on the Anaheim Community Services Board, and as Chair from 2011-2013, and helped to secure funding for local non-profit organizations that work to lift people out of poverty, prevent elder abuse, offer job training and placement, and provide additional education and arts resources to at-risk youth.

Ashleigh earned her Bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Boston College and her law degree from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law. Ashleigh lives in Anaheim Hills with her husband, Michael, their three children, and an ark of animals.

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