California's Other Dodgers: Pols Exploiting a Golden Gateway to Murky 'Behested Payments' | RealClearInvestigations

This wildfire is in the past, but a political firestorm arose soon after, over "behested payments." - By Ana Kasparian, 

Questions regarding these funds, called behested payments, arose during fierce backlash over Bass’ decision earlier this month to appoint former L.A. Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff as her chief recovery officer. 

• The Los Angeles Times reported that Soboroff was to be paid $500,000 for a mere 90 days of work. His business partner and real estate executive Randy Johnson was also hired to work with Soboroff at a salary of $250,000.

While fire victims and civic leaders described these salaries as “obscene” and a “money grab,” one anonymous source told the Times that the salaries would be paid not by the city but by three foundations with which Bass is closely associated: the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, LA4LA Fund and the Getty House Foundation...
The loophole allows elected officials to solicit unlimited sums of money from donors. 

While the money is not sent directly to officeholders, they control the cash indirectly through charities and nonprofits that make the tax-deductible donations at their behest.
This may not be bribery in the classic or even legal sense, but it’s easy to see how, at best, the “quo” in a “quid pro quo” would be enabling a politician’s better performance on the job in the public interest...