SANTA MONICA : Whitewater Figure to Be Tried for Embezzlement
Susan McDougal, who with her ex-husband was a partner in the failed Whitewater investment deal that has dogged President Clinton, was ordered Monday to stand trial in Santa Monica on charges of embezzling more than $150,000 from conductor Zubin Mehta and his wife, Nancy.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeffrey Semow said the seven felony counts stem from forged checks and unauthorized credit card purchases made during three years when Susan McDougal was Nancy Mehta’s personal assistant and bookkeeper.
The irregularities came to light in 1992 when a bank called Nancy Mehta for permission to exceed a credit card’s $10,000 limit--a card Mehta said she never knew existed, Semow said.
McDougal’s attorney said his client is innocent because she had full authority from Nancy Mehta for the disputed expenditures.
“All expenses were for the Mehtas’ benefit and are with their approval,” attorney Leonard Levine said.
McDougal is free on $20,000 bail.
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