Topline:
FBI agents searched the home of a Los Angeles deputy mayor yesterday to investigate a bomb threat he allegedly made against City Hall earlier this year, officials said Wednesday.
What do we know? Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Brian Williams allegedly made the threat earlier this year, according to Mayor Karen Bass's office. Williams was named deputy mayor in 2023 and oversaw LAPD, LA Fire Department and other public safety departments in his role. He could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday.
Why officials say: The Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement that it determined Williams was the "likely" source of the threat in an initial investigation, and then referred the case to the FBI. A spokesperson for the agency said they had no comment on the case.
What happened to Williams? He has been placed on immediate administrative leave, according to the mayor's office. Zach Seidl, a spokesperson for Bass, said in a statement that the mayor "takes this matter very seriously. When the threat was reported, LAPD investigated and determined there was no immediate danger."