Page 1
Home of Supervisor Kuehl Searched in Corruption Probe
Kuehl, a Critic of Sheriff Villanueva, Derides Warrant, Signed by Judge Richman, Saying That Jurist and Lawman
Are Pals; Investigation Centers on Award of No-Bid Contracts to a Non-Profit Headed by a Kuehl Supporter
By a MetNews Staff Writer
A warrant was served by sheriff’s deputies yesterday on Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl for a search of her Santa Monica home in connection with a probe of possible theft of public funds and bribery, with the lawmaker later scoffing that the warrant, which she said was bereft of facts justifying the search, was “signed by a judge who is a friend of the sheriff’s.”
Kuehl, the only attorney on the board (on inactive status), was referring to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig Richman. She did not provide facts upon which she based her allegation of a link between the judge and Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
It is known, however, that the judge has had a longtime friendship with Mark Lillienfeld, a lead investigator in Villanueva’s Public Corruption Unit. They met in 1996 when Lilienfeld Richman was a deputy district attorney and Lillienfeld was a homicide investigator.
Critic of Sheriff
Kuehl, a former actress and state legislator, was one of four supervisors who voted to place on the Nov. 8 ballot a measure under which the board could fire a sheriff if it deemed just cause to exist (with Supervisor Kathryn Barger dissenting) and has been a constant critic of Villanueva. On Sept. 17, 2020, in joining with former U.S. District Court Judge Robert Bonner and others in calling for Villaneuva’s resignation, Kuehl asserted:
“He is really a rogue sheriff. It is really important for this sheriff to understand that his behavior, his violation of any of the common rules that govern a law enforcement agency, is the greatest threat to public safety.”
She has endorsed former Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna (as the other four supervisors have) in the Nov. 8 run-off with Villanueva for the post of sheriff.
Villanueva’s Recusal
The affidavit in support of the search warrant notes that Villanueva “has recused himself from this investigation and has relinquished his authority as Sheriff for this limited purpose, (this criminal investigation) to the Undersheriff.”
The Sheriff’s Department yesterday posted on its website this statement:
“Today, detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Public Corruption Unit served search warrants at multiple locations in connection with an ongoing public corruption investigation. Those locations included the homes of Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and Los Angeles County Civilian Oversight Commissioner Patricia ‘Patti’ Giggans. Also searched were offices located at: Los Angeles County Hall of Administration, Peace Over Violence Headquarters, and LA Metro Headquarters. The investigation has been shared with a federal agency and they continue to monitor.”
No-Bid Contract
The investigation is in connection with a no-bid contracts awarded to the non-profit corporation, Peace Over Violence,” for operation of a hotline, with the value of the contracts exceeding $890,000.
The affidavit in support of the warrant sets forth that crimes that the executive director of Peace Over Violence is Patti Giggans, terming her a “a lifelong friend” of Kuehl and noting that Kuehl “currently sits on an advisory board for “Peace Over Violence.” It recites:
“Fox l1 News Los Angeles reported that after a several month-long investigation, they discovered that an LA. Metro sexual harassment hotline operated by ‘Peace Over Violence’ is currently costing taxpayers more than $8,000 per call.”
The affidavit elaborates:
“Through August of 2020, records appeared to show that only 13 sexual harassment-related calls had come into the ‘Off Limits’ hotline for the year. When that number is divided by the cost of the contract, that low call volume is calculated at costing taxpayers $8,450 per call.”
It relates that Giggans has made political donations to Kuehl of more than $7,000.
Giggans, a member of the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, has also called for Villanueva’s resignation.
Copyright 2022, Metropolitan News Company