The police chief said on Tuesday that Los Angeles detectives are investigating whether a recording last year that captured city councilmembers’ racist remarks was made illegally.
Earlier this month the recording’s disclosure unleashed a growing scandal in the nation’s second-largest city just weeks before Election Day. Along racial lines in Los Angeles the councilmembers’ bigoted discussion laden with crude insults laid bare the unequal representation and divided political power.
Nury Martinez, the council president, resigned in disgrace, while two other council members have resisted widespread calls from the White House down for their oysters.
Head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labour, as well as powerful labour leader Ron Hererra, nearly two weeks ago with the release of a previously unknown recording of a 2021 private meeting involving Martinez and Councilmen Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo the uproar began.
During a media availability in response to a question from The Associated Press Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said on Tuesday “The department has initiated a criminal investigation into an allegation of eavesdropping”.
During an hourlong, closed-door meeting that was laced with bigoted comments the group, all Latino Democrats, was captured on the recording scheming to protect their political clout in the redrawing of council districts.
To protect Latino political strength in council districts they used racist language to mock colleagues as well as one councilman’s young Black son while they planned. It’s not known who made the tape, or why.
To the recording of a private conversation or phone call all parties must consent, under California law. Otherwise, the person who made the recording could face civil penalties and criminal charges.
In the nation the state’s wiretapping statutes are among the strongest and allow the “injured party” the person being recorded without their permission to sue.
More than two weeks after the recording Martinez, de León, Cedillo and Herrera approached the Los Angeles Police Department on Friday, which had been posted on Reddit, was first reported for the agency to open an investigation and asked by the Los Angeles Times, Moore said.
“This wasn’t done through some intermediary or otherwise, this request was done by the principals”, he added.
The chief said about why they believe the recording was made “unlawfully and surreptitiously” detectives have since interviewed the group.
In the report to police the councilman had not been involved and had not been interviewed by detectives, on Tuesday night a spokesperson for de León, Pete Brown, said.
“Councilmember de León did not make a request for an investigation,” After Moore said that all four had been involved, Brown told AP hours.
To requests for comment late Tuesday Martinez’s spokesperson did not immediately respond, nor did a spokesperson for Cedillo or the county labour federation, during her time in office.
To halt the LA Times’ publication of the discussion’s details the labour federation previously called the leak of the recording illegal and unsuccessfully attempted. No suspects have been identified, Moore said.
He said “As far as possible, we’ll also look to understand how such a recording was made and identify, if possible, the person or persons responsible”.
With the city attorney detectives will consult whose office handles misdemeanors and county prosecutors for felony charges if needed, the chief said.
About what the investigation could entail other questions remain and at the labour federation’s headquarters whether other recordings were made.
Whether the process was rigged and the state is separately investigating how the council districts were drawn. His investigation could lead to civil liability or criminal charges, depending on what is found, Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, has said.
The fallout has left City Hall and President Joe Biden has called on de León and Cedillo to step down in turmoil. On the duo to resign at City Council meetings noisy protesters have provided a steady backdrop of chants and shouting as they try to increase pressure.
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