SACRAMENTO, Calif.—On Wednesday, Whitney Engeran-Cordova, a "Program Director" for AIDS Healthcare Foundation and one of AHF president Michael Weinstein's key personnel, didn't bother to disclose that fact when he filed a complaint against the "No On Prop 60" Committee with the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). Instead, in a press release from the "Yes on Prop 60" Committee, he's identified simply as "a public health advocate"—and that's just the first deception to be found in the press release announcing the filing of the complaint.
Specifically targeted by Engeran-Cordova is Free Speech Coalition Executive Director Eric Paul Leue, who is the only person mentioned in the complaint as having violated the Political Reform Act, even though all of the donations to fight the initiative are in fact being received by Californians Against Worker Harassment, the organization whose mission is to see Prop 60 defeated in the November election.
"In a sworn complaint," Yes On Prop 60's press release states, "Engeran-Cordova alleged the seven companies made seven separate contributions to the anti-Prop. 60 campaign totaling $75,000. All contributions were made on Sept. 2. All the companies have ties to Global Personals, LLC, which business records show is based in the UK, and all are involved in the adult entertainment industry. Six of the seven companies also failed to report their contributions in a timely manner required by law."
That is completely false.
"Florida-based Global Personals LLC is a completely unrelated company from Global Personals Ltd (UK)," Leue told AVN in an exclusive statement. "While they share a similar name, they are separately owned and operated entities with no relationship, corporate or otherwise. Had AHF done even a minor amount of research before sending out their release, they would have discovered this."
And speaking of "even a minor amount of research," Engeran-Cordova even got Free Speech's address wrong in the complaint; it hasn't been located at 9640 Owensmouth Avenue for more than a decade.
"Their other claims are similarly unwarranted and confused," Leue continued. "All reporting for the contributing entities have been reported properly with the Secretary of State. This is typical AHF behavior: mislead and obfuscate, then bully anyone who disagrees with them. Their release is political, and meant to distract voters from the faltering poll numbers, and relentless bad press for their dangerous Proposition 60."
Indeed, while the FPPC complaint filed by Engeran-Cordova is 118 pages long, only the first 10 pages are the complaint itself; the other 108 are dedicated to rehashing AHF's earlier complaint regarding the funding for the fight against Los Angeles County's Measure B, which would require all adult performers to wear condoms and other "barrier protections" when performing in sex scenes. Quite obviously, this material was included to attempt to prove "guilt by association," even though Leue had no connection with FSC at the time those funds were received nor when the complaint was filed, nor even when the FPPC decision was handed down.
But what more would anyone expect from AIDS Healthcare Foundation, er, the "Yes on Prop 60" Committee "with major funding by AIDS Healthcare Foundation"?
The FPPC complaint filed by AIDS Healthcare Foundation Program Manager Whitney Engeran-Cordova can be read here.
