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# Feinstein censured over missing funds
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/feinstein-censured-over-missing-funds/
- Published: 2003-05-10T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:07:56.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: local, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Party asks councilman to ‘temporarily withdraw’*

*By JASON AUSLANDER AND JOHN WOOD Daily Press Staff Writers*

Green Party asks councilman to ‘withdraw’ until matter is settled The California Green Party on Friday asked Santa Monica City Councilman Mike Feinstein to stop participating in party business until he accounts for $10,000 in missing funds.

“Since 2001, the (Green Party of California) has urged and continues to urge that Mike Feinstein make public all expenditures from a $10,000 check intended for the Green Party of Los Angeles County but apparently deposited into a credit union account he controlled,” the party said in a press release.

Calling Feinstein a “long-time Green Party organizer whose past efforts have been significant and appreciated,” the release states that “...the GPCA has strongly requested that Mike Feinstein temporarily withdraw from Green Party activities and committee work.”

> “...the GPCA has strongly requested that Mike Feinstein temporarily withdraw from Green Party activities and committee work.” — — CALIFORNIA GREEN PARTY

Feinstein didn’t return phone calls on Friday seeking comment. He has refused in the past to speak with the Daily Press on the matter.

The disputed $10,000 check was written to the L.A. County Green Party on Jan. 13, 2001 by Silver Lake resident Bill Pietz. The check was later deposited into an unofficial Green Party account under Feinstein’s name at the Hughes Aircraft Employees Credit Union, Pietz said.

Feinstein has previously said that more than $30,000 in Green Party donations, including Pietz’s check, was deposited into the account. Most of that money was used for rent and supplies for a Green Party office located at 2809 Pico Blvd., according to official minutes from party meetings.

In Friday’s press release, the party said it “has never maintained, staffed, leased or authorized leasing of any Southern California office space in the GPCAname.”

Feinstein has steadfastly ignored requests for two years to turn over bank records detailing exactly how the money was spent or if it was properly disclosed under state election laws, which led to Friday’s censure.

“The GPCA is committed to finding appropriate means of ensuring full transparency and accountability in the matters now under investigation by the legal and administrative authorities with jurisdiction on this matter,” according to the press release.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the California Fair Political Practices Commission are investigating the situation based on complaints sent by Green Party members.

Bob Morris, co-chairman and secretary of the L.A. County Green Party, said Santa Monica police are conferring with the D.A. this week and may ask for a court order to open the bank account records.

“Basically what the state party did was kind of a public slap-down and long overdue,” Morris said. “Mike needs to explain what he did with the $10,000.”

Morris said Feinstein doesn’t currently hold a position with the county, state or national Green Party. He also said he doubts whether Friday’s action will motivate Feinstein to turn over the bank records.

Feinstein said in February that he was being “denied due process by being unnecessarily tried in the press” and characterized the situation as an attack by his political enemies.

Pietz, who is no longer a Green Party member, said Friday’s development probably won’t change the situation because the party “isn’t really in a position to do anything.”

“Mike will probably just ignore it,” he said.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 10, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/051003.pdf?ref=smdp.com)