Los Angeles councilman arrested on pay-for-play corruption charges
A Los Angeles councilman was arrested in connection to a federal investigation into corruption in the city.
Jose Huizar, a Democrat who has been on the City Council since 2005, was arrested Tuesday because federal agents believe he oversaw a pay-for-play scheme in which he extorted real estate investors for campaign donations in exchange for his assistance in navigating the city's approval process for high-rise construction permits.
Huizar is accused of accepting campaign donations, extravagant dinners, free flights, poker chips, and other financial incentives totaling more than $1.5 million, according to his arrest warrant. The councilman's arrest was expected by many as the investigation has haunted Huizer for several years, including a 2018 FBI raid of his home in Los Angeles. Several of his associates have also been charged in recent months.
Los Angeles Council President Nury Martinez condemned Huizar's alleged behavior and announced plans to remove him from office.
"While today’s announcement on the arrest of Councilmember Huizar is not unexpected, the horrendous and disgusting allegations leveled against him and others have painted a dark cloud over our city government for a long time now,” Martinez said. “Effective today, I will begin the process of removing him from office so that the good people of Council District 14 and the City of Los Angeles will be fairly and honorably represented. That is our duty, and we must do it.”
Huizar was the chairman of the council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee. Richelle Huizar, the councilman's wife, was running to fill his seat in the next election cycle, but she suspended her campaign after the FBI raided their home.
Former City Councilman Mitchell Englander, a Democrat, pleaded guilty earlier this year in a related corruption case. Englander admitted to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in envelopes of cash and other bribes, including a female escort service, from businesses pushing permits through the city.
George Esparza, a former aid to Huizar, also pleaded guilty to helping a Chinese billionaire facilitate his bribes for the councilman by arranging trips to Las Vegas, complete with chips and other bribes. The same Chinese billionaire had previously given Huizar $600,000 to help him reach a settlement in a sexual harassment lawsuit just before his reelection in 2015, according to documents from the investigation into Esparza.
Law enforcement officials plan to announce official charges later in the day. Court documents from the investigation revealed that Huizar has been accused of extortion, money laundering, and other crimes.
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