FBI brokers searched the house of a Los Angeles deputy mayor this week as a part of an investigation into whether or not he made a bomb risk in opposition to metropolis corridor, officers mentioned.
An announcement from the workplace of the LA mayor, Karen Bass, mentioned she was notified of Tuesday’s search on the residence of Brian Ok Williams, her deputy mayor for public security, as a part of an investigation into an alleged risk.
The Los Angeles police division confirmed that officers responded “earlier this yr” to a bomb risk in opposition to metropolis corridor.
“Our preliminary investigation revealed that the supply of the risk was probably from Brian Williams, deputy mayor for public security,” the division mentioned in a press release on Wednesday. “Because of the division’s working relationship with Mr Williams, the investigation was referred to the FBI. The FBI stays the investigating company.”
Williams’ legal professional, Dmitry Gorin, instructed the Los Angeles Occasions that his consumer “strongly maintains his innocence and intends to vigorously battle the allegations”.
Zach Seidl, a spokesperson for Bass, mentioned Williams has been positioned on administrative go away.
“The mayor takes this matter very critically,” Seidl mentioned in a press release. “When the risk was reported, LAPD investigated and decided there was no rapid hazard. Following further investigation, LAPD referred this matter to the FBI for additional investigation.”
Williams has not been arrested or charged and Gorin mentioned his consumer was cooperating with investigators.
“He has a prolonged profession of public service and is presumed harmless of those allegations,” Gorin mentioned.
Williams has spent almost two years as a deputy mayor in Bass’s workplace, engaged on points resembling police hiring, public security spending and the seek for a brand new police chief.
He was additionally a deputy mayor from 2001 to 2005 through the administration of then mayor James Ok Hahn. Earlier than that, Williams spent a number of years as an assistant metropolis legal professional in Los Angeles, the Occasions mentioned.
Supply hyperlink
