This article has been updated for clarity.
Frank Foy, who alleges pay to play in the Richardson administration, unsealed an amended and greatly expanded version of his complaint today.
The 73-page document essentially incorporates investigative reporting done by media outlets related to scandals plaguing state government. It replaces Foy’s original complaint, which was 26 pages.
Foy’s lawsuit originally alleged that the state lost $90 million in investment deals with Vanderbilt Financial made in exchange for a little more than $15,000 in contributions to Gov. Bill Richardson’s 2008 presidential campaign. It has been expanded to include a wide range of other pay-to-play allegations.
Meanwhile, Foy asked a judge last week to hold the now-defunct Moving America Forward Foundation (MAFF) and the Richardson political operative who ran it in contempt for refusing to produce records in response to a subpoena in the case. Foy is also asking the judge to order that records be turned over by the foundation; the woman who ran the foundation, Amanda Cooper; and the foundation’s accounting firm, Meyners + Co.
Meyners responded this week. You can read that by clicking here.
Foy’s lawsuit was filed under the Fraud Against Taxpayers Act, which is a relatively new law intended to root out public corruption that allows people to sue on behalf of the state. Foy is seeking total damages that could exceed $300 million for the state. If an award is made, Foy would receive a percentage of the award for his work.
Attorneys for the defendants in the case are quick to point out that an audio recording exists of Foy, the former investment officer for the Educational Retirement Board (ERB), advising the ERB board that the agency’s investment division recommended investing tens of millions of dollars with Vanderbilt.
Meanwhile, another lawsuit that was filed under the Fraud Against Taxpayers Act was unsealed today. Get the details here.