SACRAMENTO, May 29 (UPI) -- Calif. Treasurer Phil Angelides allegedly tried to develop ties with the same allegedly "corrupt" businessman he attacked his opponent for contacting.
A television ad by Angelides, who is competing with Controller Steve Westly for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, criticizes Westly for raising campaign money from Chicago attorney Joseph Cari -- who awaits sentencing on criminal charges in an Illinois pension fund scandal.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Angelides apparently also sought fundraising aid from the same man.
Angelides and his aides placed repeated calls to Chicago attorney Joseph Cari in early 2005 in search of fundraising help, a Cari spokesman told the Times.
In 2003 and 2004, Cari and his partners in a venture capital firm helped Westly raise about $50,000. Cari himself gave Westly $4,000, which Westly has since returned, the newspaper said.
Ken Jakubowski, a Chicago attorney and longtime Cari associate, called Angelides' television ad "misleading."
Angelides did not deny calling Cari.
"I've called a lot of people over time for my campaigns, and the fact is I never accepted money from him," Angelides said. "I never met the man or had any discussions with this guy."
