Text of Robbins’ Letter of Resignation From Senate

Here is the text of the resignation letter sent Tuesday by former Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Van Nuys) to Rick Rollins, secretary of the state Senate.

Dear Rick:

It is difficult for me to say it, but I am writing to resign from the Senate.

As everyone is aware, I have been the target of a federal investigation that has been going on at least since 1988. After much thought, I came face to face with the reality that some of my actions had been illegal. After practicing both self-denial and public denial, I came to the conclusion that it was time to drop the shield of pretense and recognize that a number of the actions I had taken as senator failed to meet the standards of law. Earlier this year I made a difficult personal decision after years of resisting the investigation. I elected to waive my Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and to truthfully answer all of the questions of the U.S. attorney and the FBI about my activities.

I have agreed to plead guilty and will do so as soon as the court schedules a date. Further, in what I felt was my last opportunity to make partial amends for what I had done, I have agreed to give the government my full cooperation. Also, I would hope that my action in resigning and pleading guilty will help to spare the Senate, at a time when there are critical issues pending, from the immobilization that would have occurred if it went through yet another trial of another sitting senator.

I want to thank the people of the San Fernando Valley, the community in which I grew up, for having given me the opportunity to serve them in the Senate and for having been gracious enough over the years to accept my human frailties. I also want to apologize; I owed them the duty of following the law and I failed them. Obviously I will never again be a candidate for public office, so I am not asking for their political support, only for their forgiveness and their understanding. I have always strived to do the best possible job for my community. I took pleasure in knowing that some of my constituents classified me in the past as an effective worker for the Valley. While my personal failures have brought my career to an end, I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to fight for and lead the San Fernando Valley and to leave behind accomplishments in achieving voluntary school integration, protecting the privacy of victims of forcible rape, fighting insurance fraud and funding courthouse construction and local health care in all 58 counties of California. For 19 years the word has been out in Sacramento and in Los Angeles that anyone who sought to ignore, shortchange or mistreat the San Fernando Valley had a fight ahead with Alan Robbins.

I came to Sacramento in 1973 as a 30-year-old freshman senator who had made several million dollars in real estate. I spent $300,000 of my own money to help finance my campaign. I was seeking fame and recognition, drawn to the bright lights of Capitol politics like a moth to the flame. Once I arrived it didn’t take anyone very long to figure out that I hadn’t come to Sacramento to be one of the boys; to say that I rubbed some people the wrong way would be an understatement. Someone who chooses to be aggressive and independent must follow the rules. I did not. I bent them and violated them. I regret to say that over the years I lost my direction and unfortunately I leave office having failed to comply with the standards of this house and the standards of law. I wish it were different, but that is not to be.

As soon as the judge schedules a date, I will face responsibility in the courts and enter a guilty plea. Today, with great regret and with a heavy heart, I accept responsibility as a public official and submit my resignation from the California State Senate, effective immediately.

Over a period of years, as I drank the heady wine of power and influence, my priorities in office became distorted. Success and recognition were foremost; honesty and adherence to the law were not at the center of my focus. Like some others before me, I placed undue emphasis on raising funds, on achieving political status and on impressing my friends. Strict compliance with the law would have allowed me to perform my public service without becoming the center of one controversy after another over the years.

I wish my colleagues well and it would please me if someone benefits from what I have said and rededicates himself or herself to staying clear of the line. When you are willing to walk close to the line, whether for political success, personal gain or to help your friends, you risk waking up one day to find out that you have long since crossed a boundary that you vowed you never would cross. That is where I find myself today. Goodby. Good luck. Thank you. I apologize. Please include me in your prayers.

Alan Robbins, Senator, 20th District.