This article was originally published on our sister site The Current Report.
Mark Ridley Thomas, longtime friend of former L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, was sentenced today to 3 1/2 years in federal prison for bribery and public corruption.
According to Adam Loew, political strategist and expert in public corruption, the California DOJ is actively pursuing a criminal investigation against Kuehl and her best friend Patti Giggans, CEO over Peace Over Violence. The investigation is related to the no-bid contracts between Peace Over Violence, where Sebastian Ridley Thomas sat on the Board of Directors, and L.A. Metro, where Sheila Kuehl sat on the Board of Directors.
Witnesses have already interviewed and questioned about Ridley Thomas and his connection, as well as the relationship between between Giggans and Sheila Kuehl according to Paul Seo, Senior Investigating Officer in the investigation into public corruption by Giggins and Kuehl.
DOJ investigators have gone on record to say the scope of the case “is a mile wide” and will be investing several more months interviewing whistleblowers and witnesses.
According to sources at the California Department of Justice, investigators are also focused on L.A. County Inspector General Max Huntsman, who is also close friends with Sheila Kuehl, who publicly stated (to news crews) she had advance knowledge of the warrants served and executed at her home and several other locations, to seize evidence and documents related to her role in the Pay-toPlay contracts between L.A. Metro and Peace Over Violence.
The criminal investigation is looking into multiple sources who tipped off OIG Huntsman, who as a result could be facing charges of obstruction of justice, for tipping off Kuehl to the warrants issued for the seizure of information from her home, her office, CEO Peace Over Violence Giggans home and headquarters and L.A. Metro Headquarters.
The LA County Sheriffs Department executed the warrants issued by the Superior Court of California on September 14th, 2022. The Current Report was the only media present outside L.A. Metro Headquarters to document the raid despite the story’s national importance as former L.A. Metro CEO Phillip Washington who was named in the warrant at the time the Biden nominee to head the FAA.
After intense scrutiny by the Senate, most notably Senator Ted Cruz, for his involvement in the criminal investigation involving Kuehl and Giggans and his lack of aviation experience, Washington withdrew his nomination to head the FAA in March of this year.
Loew, who is married to L.A. Metro whistleblower Jennifer Loew, was instrumental in exposing Phil Washington’s involvement in corruption, supplying the Senate with critical information that lead to Washington withdrawing his nomination. Loew personally met with prosecutors and investigators at the DOJ related to the criminal investigation of Kuehl and Giggans, had this to say about today’s verdict and potential the fate of other political figures in Los Angeles:
“The conviction of Mark Riley Thomas may be just the beginning on a massive change in LA County politics. Not only will the integrity of of L.A County elected officials be under scrutiny, but also mainstream media outlets like the LA Times who suppress much of the truth regarding Public Corruption in Los Angeles.”
This is a developing story.
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