Scandal Prompts Attorney General To Investigate LA's Redistricting

LOS ANGELES, CA — California's attorney general will investigate Los Angeles' redistricting process after a recording emerged of City Council members using racial slurs while strategizing the breakdown of power in the city.

The investigation could be criminal and civil in nature, Attorney General Rob Bonta told reporters Wednesday. It is the latest fallout from a scandal that has shaken City Hall, threatened to topple some of the state's most prominent Latino leaders, and prompted condemnation from the White House.

“Let me be absolutely clear: The job of a public official is to serve the people. We’re elected to represent our constituents to the best of our abilities, doing the most good for the most people,” said Bonta. “As a father and human being, I am deeply appalled by the remarks made by some of Los Angeles’ highest-ranking officials. Their comments were unacceptable, offensive, and deeply painful. There is no place for anti-Black, antisemitic, anti-Indigenous, anti-LGBTQ, or any kind of discriminatory rhetoric in our state, especially in relation to the duties of a public official.

"The leaked audio has cast doubt on a cornerstone of our political processes for Los Angeles. Given these unique circumstances, my office will investigate to gather the facts, work to determine the truth, and take action, as necessary, to ensure the fair application of our laws. We will endeavor to bring the truth to light as part of the sorely-needed work to restore confidence in the redistricting process for the people of our state.”

Bonta did not clarify what crimes his office will investigate.

"It could lead to criminality," he said. We'll go where the facts take us... We're not looking to a policy overhaul. DOJ is investigating whether civil or criminal law was broken."

The recording that was leaked over the weekend led to Nury Martinez stepping down as council president and prompted widespread calls for her to resign, along with fellow meeting participants Councilmen Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo.

The conversation featured Martinez making an array of racially charged comments aimed at various ethnic groups, as well as the 2-year-old Black adopted son of Councilman Mike Bonin. The remarks were made during a meeting with Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera to discuss the redistricting process.

Herrera has since resigned as the federation president. Martinez has taken a leave of absence from the council, but she and the other two council members have thus far declined to resign their seats.

Since the conversation was leaked, multiple groups have called for an overhaul of the city's redistricting process, saying an independent commission should be established to take the job away from incumbent politicians who have the most to gain from the outcome of the process.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Toni McAllister contributed to this report.