Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti “Likely Knew Or Should Have Known” About Top Aide’s Conduct, Senate Report Concludes
deadline.comA new Senate report concludes that Eric Garcetti “likely knew or should have known” about alleged sexual harassment by a former top aide, despite the Los Angeles mayor’s denial that he was aware of such conduct.The report and investigation, conducted by Senate staff at the request of Sen.
Chuck Grassley (R-IA), raises new doubts about Garcetti’s pending nomination to be ambassador to India.The Senate Foreign Relations Committee cleared Garcetti’s nomination with no opposition earlier this year, but a whistleblower, Garcetti’s former communications director Naomi Seligman, has led an effort for a more thorough investigation.
Grassley put a hold on the nomination and initiated the probe in March.Rick Jacobs, who served as deputy chief of staff and later an outside adviser, was accused of improper conduct in a 2020 lawsuit filed by Los Angeles Police Department Officer Matthew Garza, who claims Garcetti witnessed the behavior but turned a blind eye to it.
Jacobs has denied the claims.“Based on a preponderance of the evidence, we conclude that Mayor Garcetti likely knew or should have known that Rick Jacobs was sexually harassing multiple individuals and making racist comments towards others,” the report concludes. (Read it here).Garcetti has denied the allegations in the past — and did so again during his hearing, telling the Senate panel he has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment.
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