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Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

FBI Raids Home, Office of LA City Councilman

FBI agents raided the home and office of a Los Angeles City Council member Wednesday morning under the authority of a federal search warrant.

LOS ANGELES (CN) – FBI agents raided the home and office of a Los Angeles City Council member Wednesday morning under the authority of a federal search warrant.

Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation carried out boxes from Councilman Jose Huizar’s office at Los Angeles City Hall, according to the Los Angeles Times.

A spokesperson for the FBI’s LA office said the FBI executed a federal search warrant at an office in Los Angeles City Hall but could not comment on the nature of the investigation because the warrant was under seal.

“There is no threat to public safety,” said FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller. “No arrests are planned.”

Additional search warrants are being executed around Los Angeles County as well. Multiple news outlets reported federal agents also searched Huizar’s home in Boyle Heights.

It’s unclear why Huizar’s home and office were searched on Wednesday morning. In a statement, Huizar’s attorney Stephen Kaufman said “We are assessing the situation and have no further comment at this time.”

Last month, two former staffers in Huizar’s office filed two separate wrongful termination lawsuits against him and the city of Los Angeles.

Mayra Alvarez and Pauline Medina said they were tasked with activities not related to Huizar’s office, like fundraising for a local high school and working on his wife’s campaign for public office. The women also claim Huizar engaged in what could be considered unethical activities, including an affair with an unnamed aide and retaliating against staffers who complained about unfair treatment.

Alvarez said Huizar retaliated against her for taking a maternity leave and complaining about the alleged affair’s impact on the council member’s office.

A special city committee is investigating the complaints against Huizar made by his former staffers.

Categories / Criminal, Regional

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