Non-sworn FPPC complaint

Position Held: District Attorney, Orange District Attorney's Office

Jurisdiction: Orange County
First name: Anthony
Last name: Rackauckas

Violation type: False, inadequate, or inaccurate reporting on statements of economic interests,

campaign statements and reports

Description: Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas did not report a private plane trip
during his November 2017 visit to Ohio for a conference on the Issue 1 ballot initiative known as
Marsy's Law. Dr. Henry Nicholas who helped financed most of the Ohio campaign to pass Issue
1, chartered the private plane from California to Ohio, inviting Tony Rackauckas as his guest.

Here is a link to an article describing the evening of results night for the Issue 1 ballot initiative
that Tony Rackauckas attended with Dr. Henry Nicholas as well as a reference to the flight they
took from California to Ohio:

http://statenews.org/post/ohioans-overwhelmingly-approve-crime-victims-constitutional-
amendment-known-marsys-law

Please see the attached image of District Attorney Tony Rackauckas entering Dr. Nicholas’
private jet in 2017 for their trip to Ohio.

District Attorney Tony Rackauckas must report gifts on his Annual Statement of Economic
Interests (Form 700) including the value of the private plane ride, if when aggregated with any
other gift received from the giftor in 2017 equals $470 or more (Section 89503.) Additionally,
travel for a Public Purpose Under Section 89506(a) are reportable on the Form 700. The flight
time from California to Ohio is 4-5 hours. Cost per flight hour on a private jet can be up to
$10,000, meaning Tony Rackauckas’ ticket would far exceed the gift limit to report on Form 700.

This is a pattern of abuse from Tony Rackauckas who repeatedly violates FPPC filing
disclosures. At the time of the flight Tony Rackauckas was on probation for violating FPPC rules.
By not disclosing this flight as a gift, Tony Rackauckas is making a mockery of his prior violations.

In September 2017, the Fair Political Practices Commission staff recommended he pay $21,000
in fines for failing to report $190,000 in funds he solicited from major donors including Dr.
Nicholas.

Tony Rackauckas and his staff frequently use Dr. Nicholas’ jet without disclosing the trips.
Attached is a picture of Chief of Staff Susan Schroeder – also required to submit Form 700 – on
the same jet.