Cover-up? Fraud? Domestic Spying?

My second installment was previously to be a continuation of my initial post; however, my “welcome” posting produced some fascinating information that has the prospective to bring Alameda County, Bob Knox, and his daughter (Kati Knox) into the investigation and national debate on illegal domestic spying on United States citizens.

In a recent Alameda County Court matter where-by Kati Knox was defending herself and her San Leandro based firm against fraud claims, court records reflect Ms. Knox invoked her Fifth Amendment rights against self incrimination when asked (under oath) to answer questions related to employment as a health care consultant in Washington DC.

Court records reflect an extended battle and exchange between Ms. Knox’s counsel and the Court regarding the sufficiency of invoking her Fifth Amendment rights in this proceeding. Despite the Court’s direct request for Ms. Knox to answer the questions related to her Washington DC employer, Ms. Knox did not answer and stood by her Fifth Amendment rights.

The Court made numerous additional request, and in doing so explained the seriousness of invoking her Fifth Amendment rights, and stated “even James Bond” or any employee of the “CIA” or “National Security…would have to say” under oath who their employer was. Ms. Knox’s counsel did not allow her to answer.

After further pressure from the Court to answer the question, things go from strange to memories of Watergate and Oliver North, as Ms. Knox’s counsel implies that even if Ms. Knox were to answer the question, “you wouldn’t get the company that she really worked for.” Ms. Knox’s counsel goes further and states there would be “criminal sanctions for disclosing the contents of that work that she (Ms. Knox) did.”

Personally, I am no legal expert; nevertheless implying to the Court’s of this Country your client (Ms. Knox) might commit perjury to cover-up her employers identity, as well be under threat of criminal sanctions for disclosing such raises very serious legal questions of what Ms. Knox and the Washington DC based company who employs her is actually doing, and why an apparent cover-up would be necessary.

In a closing exchange between Ms. Knox’s counsel and the Court, Ms. Knox’s counsel admits her client holds “a government job where she” (Ms. Knox) receives payment via a “shell company” for which “she’s not allowed to discuss, especially in open court.”

The information I have reviewed also indicates Ms. Knox admitted to purchasing a home in the Washington DC area and relocating her family. Despite the relocation and the stresses of a new job, her employer allowed her a great deal of freedom to regularly return to the Bay Area for business reasons that are extremely vague. Further, in what may have been a serious slip of the tongue, Ms. Knox’s counsel made reference during later questioning to a company or entity by the name of “Virginia Health Care Systems.”

I have gathered additional information that may further shore up Ms. Knox (Kati Knox) possible involvement in domestic spying activity. Ms. Knox has in the past used various last names including her maiden name as well versions of her married name Wrobel, Knox-Wrobel, and Granville. The latter name is the most intriguing, as Granville is Bob Knox’s middle name (Robert Granville Knox III). Ms. Knox has also used various versions of her first name such as Kathleen, Katie, and Kati.

Ms. Knox also has the following email addresses katik007@yahoo.com & kathleenlkw@yahoo.com. These addresses implore the question of arrogance and/or hiding in plain sight?

As I prepare to close my second installment, I will circle back to past Alameda County politicians and make in my opinion a simple connection between Kati Knox’s activities as noted above and her father, Bob Knox. This connection is supported with information available in World Wide Web that appears to claim Ms. Knox shared confidential and legally protected (Hipaa/Hippa) private patient medical information with her father. What is apparent from the information available is it looks as if both parties may have gone to great lengths in an attempt to cover-up this inadvertent, but apparently grave slip-up.

Please keep in mind Ms. Knox currently owns and operates a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly, which provides her access to confidential medical records of her patients. The US and California Department of Justice and the California Department of Social Services oversees and enforces very strict laws on the release and disclosure of medical data. Sharing such information in violation of the law has serious legal consequences on both a Federal and State level.

For reference, I spent a few minutes reviewing the history of Valerie Plame. I found it very interesting in that it appears once Valerie Plame’s identity was revealed and confirmed as an employee of the CIA, the CIA “lifted” and “rolled back her cover.” The CIA determined that “public interest outweighed” any “damage” from “disclosure” of “employment and cover status.” The apparent truth of Valerie Plame was out and her employer was making no further attempt to cover-up her employment or role with the CIA.

I believe it would be reasonable for a person to venture, that in light of Ms. Knox’s use of her Fifth Amendment rights, and her counsel’s aggressive defense of such, as well her counsel’s surprising admissions to the Court, Ms. Knox is likely, to this day, working in a covert manner for an unnamed government shell company.

(A great deal of additional data on this particular subject is being vetted and verified and will be shared at an appropriate time)

Welcome

At one time Alameda County was perceived as a bright star and a rock of upstanding politicians in a sea of corrupt counties and local governments within California. Much of this changed back in the 80’s around the time of Pete Stark, Bill Lockyer, Don Perata, Bob Knox, Elihu Harris and many more. To this day Alameda County is yet to fully recover from that period.

The list of supporting players is long and twisted. There are the ex-wives, girl friends, mistresses, illicit drug enablers, back room campaign financiers, pay-to-play business associates, and unsuspecting volunteers.

Sadly, there were also a number of well meaning, honest, hard working people whom sought to help make a difference, but found the politicians of that period a disgraceful wake-up call to the changes rapidly occurring within Alameda County. Many of those people have enlightened me over the years.

The Back Story will chronicle some of what I personally experienced, as well provided to me by other insiders. Some of my sources remain active in Alameda County and California level politics, both as political insiders and individuals doing business with local and State level government entities. (I would enjoy any additional information or post from people familiar with Alameda County politics, in particular with the politicians and time frame covered)

My chronicles start with Bob Knox’s (Robert G. Knox III) initial campaign for Alameda County Treasurer. I was an uncompromising individual with goals for higher education and doing great things to help others. In an odd meeting with mutual friends, I found myself volunteering to help Bob Knox’s election campaign. I continued to help and work for him on-and-off for over a decade thereafter.

Almost from the start, I saw things that were improper: fund raising events where cash and checks from investment bankers and business associates of Bob Knox’s were slipped to him or his campaign manager in back rooms, which for some reason did not get reported on required financial disclosures. A source once asked why those funds did not make it to the reports. Bob’s reply was a warning never to ask or discuss the matter “if you want my help in the future.” I witnessed the consumption of illegal and illicit drugs at Bob Knox’s home in the Oakland Hills during “thank you parties” and gathering of campaign staff. The drugs were provided by campaign staff and consumed by many. A source indicated the drugs were supplied by Bob Knox’s mistress at that time. The mistress was also providing campaign assistance, but it is unclear if she was paid for her role.

Sometime during Bob Knox’s Treasurer’s campaign, Bill Lockyer, current California State Treasurer, and Bob Knox formed their political and personal relationship. That relationship continues today, and is as robust as ever. The foundation of this relationship from the onset was the exchange of political favors and business benefits in exchange for access to fund-raising assistance and resources from Lockyer’s long list of supporters. This exchange of favors has continued uninterrupted and has mutually benefited both parties. As of just over a year ago, Bob Knox provided Bill Lockyer a substantial political favor by financially supporting Bill Lockyer’s new wife Nadia, in her successful campaign for Alameda County Supervisor. This is a position Bob Knox held for many years. Bob’s support for Nadia went well beyond financial, as Bob called in many of his long-time political and business associates to contribute and volunteer end-less hours on Nadia’s campaign. Bob was also front and center on a campaign mailer for Nadia that referenced his former position as County Treasurer. Bob’s daughter, Kati Knox, who owns a business in San Leandro, and has been politically active in San Leandro for many years and romantically connected to numerous San Leandro businessmen and an active San Leandro Police Officer, worked relentlessly on Nadia’s campaign.

Bob Knox recently formed an investment banking firm, R.G. Knox Company LLC, (www.rgknox.com) based out of his home in Park City Utah and is currently one of only a few small firms (below normally accepted capital levels) to be accepted by Bill Lockyer’s office to the “Public Finance Underwriter Pool for 2011-2013”. Acceptance as an underwriter provides these firms access to potential fees (substantial in many cases) for managing funds for the State of California and the Treasurer’s office.

Bob Knox’s new investment banking firm surfaced after he shutdown his California based investment-banking firm and resigned as a VP at Zion’s Bank in Salt Lake City. I have some unconfirmed details regarding the reasons behind these recent events. I will share them once they can be confirmed.

(The Back Story will continue to grow in the weeks and months to come)