Roberti Won’t Punish Richardson for His Suspected Role in Coup

SACRAMENTO — Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) on Wednesday backed away from punishing senior Republican Sen. H. L. Richardson for his suspected role as a strategist in an unsuccessful plot to overthrow Roberti.

Richardson originally had been counted by Roberti as one of three “insurgents” he believed were engineering his ouster.

As punishment, Roberti said, he considered firing Richardson as a member of the Judiciary Committee, a post the Glendora legislator relishes.

However, Roberti said on Wednesday that although he had heard “rumors” of Richardson participating in unspecified “meetings,” no one came forth with proof.

“I wouldn’t be on strong ground (to remove him),” Roberti said. “I’d be acting on rumors. I’m pretty sure now the meetings he was attending were about changes in his own (Republican) leadership ranks and not the Senate as a whole.”

Roberti did punish Sens. John Seymour of Anaheim, the No. 2 Republican Senate leader, and Daniel E. Boatwright (D-Concord) by stripping them of their most important committee assignments. Both denied any attempt at toppling Roberti, who has refused to discuss his evidence of an overthrow attempt other than to say some senators tipped him off that one was under way.

Likewise, Richardson has said he had no part in any coup, but that if the timing became right in the future he would seek to depose Roberti.