Inquiry of university group widens

Cal State Stanislaus students Alicia Lewis, left, and Ashli Briggs with shredded documents that reportedly contained information about Sarah Palin's appearance on campus. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

Alleged document shredding prompts deeper scrutiny of Cal State Stanislaus Foundation

By Carla Rivera
LA Times
April 14, 2010

California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown said Tuesday that he was launching an expanded investigation into the finances and actions of a Cal State Stanislaus foundation that has invited former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to give a speech, after allegations that it may have illegally discarded documents related to the event.

Brown already was investigating whether the Cal State Stanislaus Foundation violated the California Public Records Act when it refused the request of state Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) to hand over documents related to Palin's speaking fee and other aspects of her scheduled June 25 appearance.

The broader investigation will look into whether funds raised by the foundation -- which has assets of more than $20 million, according to Brown -- are being used for educational purposes.

Brown said his office also will examine documents, apparently part of a contract with Palin, that several Cal State Stanislaus students say they discovered late last week in a campus trash bin. Brown said he wanted to determine if the documents were authentic and how they ended up in a bin next to an administrative building.

(Continued here.)