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Supervisor Sheila Kuehl denies wrongdoing amidst sheriff's investigators search By City News Service
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os Angeles County Sheriff's Department investigators served multiple search warrants Wednesday -- including at the home and office of county Supervisor Sheila Kuehl -- in connection with a public- corruption probe involving contracts awarded by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to a nonprofit group run by a close friend of Kuehl. Kuehl denied any wrongdoing and blasted the probe as a politically motivated act of harassment by Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who has repeatedly clashed with the Board of Supervisors. Detectives from the sheriff's Public Corruption Unit also served warrants at the home of Patricia "Patti" Giggans and at the headquarters of Peace Over Violence, the nonprofit agency run by Giggans, who is a friend of Kuehl's and sits on the Los Angeles County Civilian Oversight Commission that oversees the sheriff's department. The unit also served warrants at Kuehl's office at the county Hall of Administration, the Office of the Inspector General and the headquarters of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, according to the sheriff's department. Although the sheriff's department declined to comment on the investigation, it released a redacted copy of the affidavit that led to the warrants. That document states the case is a probe into
Supervisor Sheila Kuehl attending the United Chamber of Commerce's State of the County Luncheon with Supervisor Kathryn Barger (back) in October 2021. | Photo courtesy of Supervisor Kuehl’s Office
"an allegation of criminal conduct" by Kuehl and three "sole source contracts awarded to a nonprofit organization operating under the name Peace Over Violence" to operate a sexual harassment tip line for employees and riders on the Metro transit system. "Between the years of 2014-2020, a series of ‘sole source' contracts were awarded by the MTA to the Los Angelesbased nonprofit organization Peace Over Violence totaling over $890,000," according to the affidavit. "A sole source contract is a non-competitive procurement that allows a single supplier to fulfill the contractual obligations and
requirements from, in this case, a public entity/government contractor (MTA)." The affidavit documents the long history of friendship between Kuehl and Giggans, noting that Kuehl officiated Giggans' wedding in 2004 when she was a state senator. It also noted that Kuehl -- who serves on the Metro Board of Directors -- is a member of the advisory board of Peace Over Violence and that Kuehl appointed Giggans to the Civilian Oversight Commission. Kuehl -- who has clashed repeatedly with Villanueva and has called for his resignation -- told reporters she was escorted from her home in
Santa Monica at around 7 a.m. She said she was alone at the time. Sheriff's deputies went inside her home, and could be seen opening and closing doors and taking photos or videos, the Los Angeles Times reported from the scene. Kuehl told reporters investigators took her cell phone. Kuehl told reporters outside her home the investigation was "bogus," suggesting it was a continuation of Villanueva's criticism and allegations of wrongdoing by the Board of Supervisors. She said she has no knowledge about the awarding of the Peace Over Violence contracts for the sexual harassment
hotline. "What this is all about is a disgruntled employee at Metro who was let go who became obsessed with a contract that Metro took with Peace Over Violence related to sexual harassment so that they would take the calls," Kuehl said. "And she claimed that I had something to do with the contract, which was completely false." Kuehl said she was notified by an attorney for the county Tuesday night that the sheriff's department was planning to show up at her home Wednesday morning. Giggans' attorney, Austin Dove, told The Times the raid amounted to "Third World
tactics" by the sheriff's department. Dove also accused deputies carrying out the search of going beyond the limits outlined in the warrant -- including towing Giggans' car. Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin, who also sits on the Metro Board of Directors, issued a statement blasting the investigation. "This is a bogus, vindictive, politically motivated witch hunt by a corrupt sheriff with a track record of abusing his power and trying to silence and intimidate his critics," Bonin said. "Sheila Kuehl is a public official of the highest integrity and of remarkable accomplishment. Alex Villanueva runs a department notorious for violence, scandal and civil rights violations. He is scared of civilian oversight, defies civilian oversight, and is abusing his power to get revenge on those who exercise civilian oversight." Villanueva has not commented on the search warrants. The search warrant affidavit notes the Villanueva recused himself from any involvement in the investigation to avoid any appearance of conflict. The sheriff is in the midst of a contentious re-election campaign, squaring off in November against former Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna. Kuehl, 81, has been on the Board of Supervisors since 2014 and will be leaving the See Sheila Kuehl Page 3