The state Attorney General’s Office Tuesday accepted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department request to investigate allegations of political corruption against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and county Supervisor Sheila Kuehl over contracts awarded to a nonprofit organization run by one of Kuehl’s closest friends. The move by Attorney General Rob Bonta was confirmed in a letter sent to the sheriff’s department and first obtained by the Los Angeles Times. “Therefore, we will assume all responsibility for the underlying investigation of Peace Over Violence, Patricia Giggans, et al.”The sheriff’s investigation grabbed headlines last week when deputies searched Kuehl’s home and office, along with offices at Metro, the Metro Office of Inspector General and Giggans’ home and office. A Metro whistleblower, Jennifer Loew, sparked the investigation with allegations that Kuehl helped push the contracts toward Giggans and Peace Over Violence, an allegation Kuehl has strongly denied. Attorneys for the Metro OIG and Kuehl challenged the legality of the warrants.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 21, 2022 23:36 UTC