Supreme Court passes on 'Strippergate' case

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By Associated Press

Summary

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to get involved in the case of Seattle strip-club owner Frank Colacurcio Sr. and three others accused of illegal campaign contributions in a case known as "Strippergate."

Story Published: Oct 29, 2007 at 7:46 AM PDT

Story Updated: Oct 29, 2007 at 7:46 AM PDT

Supreme Court passes on 'Strippergate' case
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to get involved in the case of Seattle strip-club owner Frank Colacurcio Sr. and three others accused of illegal campaign contributions in a case known as "Strippergate."

The justices did not comment on their decision not to hear an appeal of a state Supreme Court decision reinstating criminal charges against the four.

In March the state Supreme Court reinstated criminal charges against Colacurcio Sr., his son Frank Jr., and associates Marsha Furfaro and Gil Conte.

They are accused of conspiring to skirt campaign spending limits by reimbursing friends and family members for political contributions in 2003 to then-council members Judy Nicastro, Heidi Wills and Jim Compton.

Prosecutors say the defendants funneled illegal donations totaling at least $39,000 while the council was considering a parking lot expansion at a Colacurcio strip club.

King County prosecutors charged the Colacurcios, Furfaro and Conte in 2005 with conspiring to file false campaign financial reports and causing the campaigns to file false reports.

The convictions were overturned last year by King County Superior Court Judge Michael Fox, who agreed with defense attorneys that the state Public Disclosure Act limited punishment to civil penalties.

But the state Supreme Court said a civil statute generally shouldn't trump a criminal law, because doing so "would infringe on the prosecuting attorney's discretion to charge a crime."

The three council members involved returned the questioned donations and paid ethics fines for improper contacts with people lobbying for the strip club, including former Gov. Al Rosellini, a friend of the Colacurcios.