The civil trial of Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith, accused of misconduct and playing favorites when issuing rarely-granted concealed carry permits, has revealed new details of how the pay-to-play scheme allegedly operated, with one witness outlining how he and the CEO of a now-defunct security firm agreed to pay tens of thousands of dollars to an “independent” group supporting the sheriff’s re-election campaign in exchange for several concealed carry permits for their employees.
Martin Nielsen, who was given immunity from criminal prosecution for his testimony in the civil trial, told jurors that it was clear from his interactions with sheriff’s department higher-ups that the hefty campaign contribution would pave the way for the permits to be approved.
Initially, the discussion involved acquiring more than a dozen permits, but Nielsen was clear in affirming that a hefty political donation would make it happen.
