The Leaky Wheel Gets a Seat on the Bench

The Oakland Tribune today reported that Charles “Ben” Burch, “the federal prosecutor who has been quarterbacking the grand jury investigation into state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata was appointed a Contra Costa County Superior Court judge Wednesday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.” (Oakland Tribune, April 14, 2005)

Yes, you heard right, Arnold Schwarzenegger has just rewarded the same “quarterback” whose office has been accused of selectively leaking information to the media just as Perata became the Pro Tem with a judgeship.

At the time, Perata attorney George O’Connell, in a letter to Burch’s boss, US Attorney Kevin Ryan asked “Is the illegal discussion of a grand jury proceeding by government law enforcement personnel being orchestrated for political purposes?”

At the time, one political observer noted that such might be the case: “‘I do believe that it was politically motivated,’ said Barbara O'Connor, director of the Institute for the Study of Politics in Sacramento.” (Oakland Tribune, November 23, 2004)

With Schwarzenegger’s reward of Burch with a seat on the Superior Court, looks like we now have our answer.

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