Wendy Greuel Accused of Ethics Violations
Video by Joy Wang
Los Cerritos Community Newspaper journalists held a news conference Thursday at City Hall to discuss ethics complaints against Los Angeles City Controller and mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel, as well as a "handful" of other city employees.
Publisher Brian Hews and investigative reporter Randy Economy said they requested a formal investigation be opened and charges filed on behalf of Los Angeles taxpayers for "gross misuse of their positions as city employees."
Los Cerritos Community Newspaper journalists claim they conducted a six-month investigation into Greuel's day-to-day activities and claim "a majority of her official city schedule has been dedicated to political activities including the solicitation of campaign donations to her Mayoral campaign," according to a letter distributed by the group.
Greuel responded to questions from an ATVN reporter about the ethics allegations Thursday and said she "knew nothing about the allegations."
Hews and Economy said they plan to file their complaints with the City Ethics Commission. A request will also be filed with the District Attorney's Office Public Integrity Office to review Greuel's possible misuse of the Controller's Office for political gain.
The ethics allegations come in the midst of a close mayoral runoff between Greuel and City Councilman Eric Garcetti.
The latest ABC Eyewitness News poll shows Greuel has a three point lead over Garcetti. Their previous poll showed Garcetti with a nine point lead.
