Former Enron attorney to present findings from Postmus investigation
Trailblazing attorney John Hueston could present findings from his investigation into the San Bernardino County Assessor's Office to the Board of Supervisors as early as Tuesday.
In late January, the board hired Hueston, who successfully prosecuted key figures in the Enron scandal, to help build a case against Postmus in order to fire him with the least resistance. But on Feb. 13, Postmus officially resigned.
With Postmus now gone, Hueston's investigation has been suspended until his findings and recommendations are made to the board. It remains unclear if the county will continue to retain his services.
"We're still asking (Hueston) to come back with his findings and make a determination on how to proceed," Second District Supervisor Paul Biane said. In the same breath, he said Postmus's resignation may remove the neccessity of having such a high-priced attorney investigate.
The county last month budgeted $250,000 for Hueston and his staff to begin their investigation, and has racked up about $90,000 in billable hours so far, county spokesman David Wert said.
Third District Supervisor Neil Derry said the investigation needs to be completed and the findings made public to avoid any perception of secrecy.
"The important thing to realize is this wasn't about the removal of Bill Postmus, it was about investigating allegations against the Assessor's Office that have been made by the press and other sources," Derry said. "It's important for the public to know that we're going to complete the process."
Investigators from the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office arrested Postmus, 37, at his Rancho Cucamonga home on Jan. 15 after finding what appeared to be methamphetamine during the serving of a search warrant. It was one of 10 warrants served in San Bernardino and Orange counties as part of the District Attorney's ongoing investigation into political malfeasance at the Assessor's Office.
Postmus, who posted bail and was released from jail the day of his arrest, has not been charged with a crime.
The criminal investigation came on the heels of a grand jury report criticizing the Assessor's Office for alleged cronyism and use of office for political activity.
Hueston gave a verbal update on his investigation last week with county counsel. The intent is for him to present his findings either Tuesday or March 17, Biane said.
The county will likely share information from Hueston's investigation with the District Attorney's Office to use at their discretion, Wert said.
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