Businessman Says Money To College Head Not A Bribe

The $50,000 given to the head of Edmonds Community College was a gift and not a kickback, contends the president of an Everett equipment company named in a federal investigation into bribery and extortion.

“Tom Nielsen never once asked me for a dollar,” said the businessman, the former owner of land and a large warehouse that now houses the college’s horticulture program and Lynnwood Municipal Golf Course maintenance equipment.

Nielsen is accused of accepting bribes and extorting money from people doing business with the school.

He also is being investigated for allegedly accepting bribes from a travel company that brought Japanese students to the college and extorting money in connection with two buildings used by the college.

Nielsen has not been charged with any crime. An affidavit outlining the accusations was filed in federal court in Seattle by the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office. The affidavit, made public Friday, was used to persuade a magistrate to issue search warrants.

The affidavit alleges the Everett businessman paid Nielsen the $50,000 to “facilitate (his) sale of the property to the city of Lynnwood for use by ECC and the golf course.”

That accusation is supported by copies of two personal checks written by the businessman to Nielsen. One check written April 1990 was for $45,000 while another one in May 1990 was made out for $5,000.

The Everett businessman sold his property to the city of Lynnwood in May 1989, according to the affidavit.

He said he gave Nielsen the money because he was “grateful for the sale.” Initially, the businessman said the payments were gifts but later said the money could be viewed as a “consulting fee.”

He did not specify what Nielsen did to deserve the money.