Sheriff’s Investigators​ Raid Home Of County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators reportedly searched the home of County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl early Wednesday morning, escorting her out of her home as they served her with a warrant.

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.

According to a court affidavit filed in support of the search warrants, the case is a probe into "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 Angeles-based 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 — was escorted from her home in Santa Monica at around 7 a.m. by sheriff's deputies. 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."

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.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying the sheriff's department presented its investigation into Kuehl and the Peace Over Violence contracts to prosecutors in September 2021 for consideration of possible criminal charges.

"We reviewed the case and determined that the state of the evidence at that time did not prove criminal conduct beyond a reasonable doubt," according to the D.A.'s Office. "LASD indicated that they would continue to investigate. We have not had additional contact on the matter and were not consulted or aware of the search warrants that were served today. In this case, because we did not review the warrant beforehand, we do not intend to defend it if challenged in court."

In a statement released late Wednesday afternoon, Kuehl said the "basis of this search was questionable and will be investigated."

According to the Times, a county employee has alleged the nonprofit was improperly awarded contracts aided by Kuehl’s office. Kuehl told Fox11 that the search warrant was a "bogus non-investigation." Her office has denied having any role in awarding contracts to the nonprofit. She said the Board of Supervisors never voted on the contracts.

"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."

For her part, Kuehl has repeatedly clashed with Villanueva. The board of Supervisors has sought authority to fire the sheriff, which is an elected position.

Villanueva has clashed with the county's Board of Supervisors since the beginning of his tenure and has faced multiple investigations. The Office of the Inspector General has investigated Villanueva for his handling of deputy gangs and whether he lied about having knowledge of a video showing a deputy kneeling on a handcuffed inmate’s head.

Villanueva has claimed the investigations are politically orchestrated. He held an extraordinary press conference in April, announcing an investigation into the source for a Los Angeles Times story exposing the existence of the video. At the time, he indicated that the reporter, the inspector general and his political opponents could be the target of the criminal investigation. However, he quickly walked his comments back amid backlash over targeting a newspaper reporter for critical coverage.

SEE ALSO:

• Villanueva Threatens To Investigate Reporter And Political Foes
• Former Assistant Sheriff Accuses Villanueva Of Cover-U

This month, a judge, who had ordered Villanueva to appear before the Office of Inspector General to answer questions about the deputy gangs, set a follow-up hearing after county attorneys alleged Villanueva did not fulfill his obligations during the first OIG session.

The Los Angeles Times on Wednesday reported on the longstanding relationship between Superior Court Judge Craig Richman, who signed the search warrants and a lead investigator of the sheriff’s public corruption unit Mark Lillienfeld. According to the newspaper, the pair were once the subject of an internal sheriff's investigation.

City News Service contributed to this report.