L.A. County district attorney opens inquiry into Villaraigosa’s acceptance of tickets [Updated]

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley has opened an inquiry into Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's practice of accepting free tickets to sports events, concerts and award shows – and whether he should have reported those tickets to the city's Ethics Commission.

[For the record, 12:20 p.m.: An earlier headline on this post said "L.A. County district attorney opens inquiry into Villaraigosa’s gift-taking." It has not yet been established that the tickets were gifts.]

David Demerjian, head deputy of Cooley's Public Integrity Division, said he contacted the commission after receiving a complaint that referenced several stories by The Times and by KTTV-TV Channel 11 about the mayor's tickets.

"Obviously, the issue is whether the mayor received gifts which he failed to report," Demerjian said.

State and city laws require politicians to report gifts they receive — and say who gave them. Those laws limit the value of the tickets from exceeding $420 from any one source in a year. Elected officials are exempt from those requirements, however, if they conduct official business or have a "ceremonial" role at an event.

Villaraigosa contends he attended as many as 80 events free of charge – each was identified on his official calendar -- as part of his official duty to promote and represent Los Angeles. At some events, the mayor presented a decorative city proclamation to athletes, entertainers or organizers.

Villaraigosa spokeswoman Sarah Hamilton did not comment but said previously that the mayor believes he complied with "all applicable laws and regulations." Two weeks ago, The Times reported that the mayor's lawyer, Brian Currey, could not find records that spelled out who paid for the tickets.

Currey is still searching for documentation to show what types of public duties the mayor performed. So far, Villaraigosa has confirmed that he paid for a single event – a U2 concert at the Rose Bowl.

The mayor's practices stand in contrast to his predecessor, James Hahn, who publicly reported tickets he received to similar sporting events and award shows, including the Academy Awards, the Grammys, a Rose Bowl game, Dodgers and Angels games, a Lakers game and a UCLA- USC football game. Billionaire New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, pays his own way to entertainment and sporting events, including Yankees games.

Villaraigosa's office also has not produced any documents that would show that the financial value of those tickets or whether he took guests who also received free tickets.

The Ethics Commission opened an investigation into Villaraigosa's tickets earlier this month, sending the mayor a letter on June 2 asking for a series of records. Demerjian said his office's actions only rise to the level of an inquiry.

"You can't label something an investigation until we've determined that an actual crime has occurred," Demerjian said. "And at this point, I cannot say whether or not a crime has occurred."

--David Zahniser at Los Angeles City Hall

Photo: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, left, talks with producer Jeffrey Katzenberg as they attend a Lakers game in May. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Comments

[thetruth]

nothing will come of this (surprise!), but at least cooley is creating a facade of action. the mayor should be ashamed of his self-serving (he and his girlfriend) ways and the exceptionally weak/insulting attempts at justifications (see the beyonce situation).

good to know that he "believes" he complied with all applicable laws. that's nice.

[Uh huh]

It's such a shame for a mayor to thumb his nose at ethics but I'm not surprise given the type of person he is. What do you expect from a man who cheats on his wife. Once a cheater, always a cheater. Don't see him as having much class.

[awJeez]

Aw come on! can u PLEASE use taxpayer's money in a better way rather than go after the mayor for going to free events? he IS the mayor. jeezzzzze.

[Marc]

It’s not the fault that Mr. Mayor Antonio Villariagosa is liked around the world and has many invitations. Unlike the likes of Bloomberg or Hann whom was a great Mayor did not have that international appeal though? Mr. Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley LEAVE HIM ALONE and get on with better things for the city. Don’t waste tax payer money on if the mayors paid for not for his tickets!

[Rosee]

Excellent! Thank you Mr. Cooley!!

Just hoping it's a thorough investigation.

[V Edit]

I've always considered it sort of ceremonial, in itself, for a city's mayor to show up to cheer on the local athletic teams. To be honest, I was surprised to find out that the mayor isn't entitled to complimentary tickets for these kinds of appearances.

Now, if he's been scooping up free front row seats to Green Day and Springsteen, that may be another matter. But if this is just about the mayor getting comps to come out and support our local teams, I don't see the big cause for scandal.

[AndreaU8]

*Come on - court side tickets to the Lakers DON'T fall under "to promote and represent Los Angeles".

"Villaraigosa's office also has not produced any documents that would show that the financial value of those tickets or whether he took guests who also received free tickets. "

*There's the crime - the mayor is taking gifts that he shouldn't as a "public employee".

[liv]

its about time. these actions is called graft and corruption, maybe the mayor doesnt know that they are because in his ex-country, its acceptable to be corrupted. We have to use him as a lesson that we live in a country where there are laws.

[JWM]

Now what official role does the Mayor have at a Lakers Game, the Oscars, the Grammys, the U2 concert. Did he give out proclamations, did he present an award, did he give a speech, NO. I hope these finding will make him more of SHAM then he already is.

[1muley1]

He cant produce records of any kind pertaining to anything? Really? could that be because there are no records to be found? He is guilty as charged! To the mayor of Los Angeles your image as a person represents LA very well "SLIMY"! Resign before you are forced out in complete disgrace!

[BubbaGump]

Tony V is the same La Raza simpleton he was 30 years ago; now with a better haircut and makeup.

[yoga2010]

Why is anyone surprised by this? A man who would cheat on the most fundamental of promises - his marriage vows - would be willing to cheat on other things. You can't expect someone with no integrity in his personal life to have integrity in his public life.

[kgoddess]

Thst VillaUselsee is a crook we know, & that Cooley waited til an election year to do anything about it shouldn't come as a surprise either.

[DM]

Big stink but nothing will happen, as usual

[ginger snaps]

Ya it is sad to say he feels the need to cheat all the time. He cheated on his wife and he is cheating on his reports to the ethnics commision. This guy needs to get out of dodge. The city of LA can no longer afford to keep people with his corrupt values in office. He knows he didnt comply with the laws other wise he would have filed the reports as Hahn did. I remember him being shocked when he couldnt ride that airplane for free and He basicly pitched a fit. He should have been looked into then.

[TAM]

Cooley, will not find anything wrong, and the Pint Size Mayor will pay for the items with tax payers money. All of these corrupt clowns stick together. What has Cooley, done to Mahony? The answer to that question is nothing at all, and the same will be for the inept Pint Size Mayor.

[The Bell]

First he came for the marijuana smokers. Then it was sports and music...

Cooley is probably just jealous that nobody wants to invite a Mr. Potato Face to their social events. No amount of grandstanding on C's part is likely to alter this.

[Keith]

Not only is the Mayor steeling from the taxpayers of Los Angeles County by not reportng these tickets as income, he is steeling fro the Fereral Government the same way. He should be charged with grand theft, lose his job as Mayor, pay any appropriate fines, AND, if warrented, serve prison time. He would require this to be done this to any other Govt. politician, "on-the-take", especially if they were Republican.

[Rosee]

I agree with Uh Huh!!!

And as a taxpayer...I don't want to pay for his girlfriend when he takes her on his city business trips! Isn't he still married?

Hmm...that's something else that should be checked into Mr. Cooley.

Let's see if our Mayor with his Cheshire Cat grin will be smiling after the investigation.

[james andrews]

He didn't report them due to arrogance that the law doesn't apply to him. His lying to the public and the city council over the DWP is much worse. The man who yearns to be Senator has shown his true character. Just another opportunistic politician instead of a civic leader.

[JC]

I don't like this guy. But come on 420.00 ticket. Where is that to the local swap meet. Not a Laker Game.

[Markus30]

LA's mayor? Crooked? Not a chance... That guy's on the up and up, 100%.

Very Truly Yours,
ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich

[Tee]

lol

[BartA58]

Whoever will be checking into this should check with Santa Anita as well. He also has been hanging out there. Fun, fun, fun as the Beach Boys might say.

[Paul L.]

if the mayor had any real class he would graciously accept all gifts and tickets and then donate them to charity.