Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has reportedly applied for a position with LA Metro, an agency his department previously investigated during his tenure. In 2022, under Villanueva’s leadership, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department conducted high-profile searches as part of a corruption probe targeting LA Metro and other entities. The investigation, which included raids on the home of former L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and offices linked to a Metro contractor, was criticized as politically motivated and was not pursued by the California Attorney General’s office.
Villanueva confirmed his job application during a deposition for his lawsuit against the county, following his placement on a “do not rehire” list due to findings of harassment and discrimination. He claims that Metro is not a county department, which he believes exempts him from the rehire ban. The position he seeks is part of a new police force that Metro is establishing. According to Los Angeles Magazine, L.A. Times reporter Keri Blakinger commented on social media, calling the situation “genuinely unhinged.”
The investigation led by Villanueva focused on contracts awarded to Peace Over Violence, a nonprofit run by Patti Giggans, a friend of Kuehl and a critic of Villanueva. The contracts, worth over $800,000, were scrutinized after allegations of unfair awarding surfaced. However, the California Department of Justice concluded there was insufficient evidence to file criminal charges, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Villanueva’s application to Metro comes amid ongoing legal challenges and public scrutiny over his past actions as sheriff. The outcome of his job application remains pending.
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