One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
LA’s New DA Gascón Runs Into Internal Resistance On His Second Day
L.A. DA George Gascon. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
George Gascón was sworn in as L.A. County’s new district attorney on Monday, and by Tuesday he already had to deal with an act of defiance by a member of his staff.
Gascón ordered a deputy DA to drop train-wrecking charges against Emanuel Padilla, who had been arrested at a protest against the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.Gascón had determined there wasn’t enough evidence to support the charges, according to DA spokesman Max Szabo.
But the prosecutor refused, Szabo said.
Gascón found another deputy DA to deal with the matter, said Szabo, who declined to name the defiant prosecutor or discuss whether the individual faces discipline, on the grounds that it’s a personnel matter.
The protester, Emanuel Padilla, was released last night after spending 20 days behind bars. He praised Gascón.
The Sheriff’s Department slammed the DA’s move, saying in a statement that it’s “disappointed and perplexed that the charges were dropped despite the clear factual evidence.”
The incident is the latest sign of the resistance Gascón faces from those on his staff who oppose his reformist policies.
Sponsored message
READ OUR FULL STORY ON THE CLASH OVER THE CHARGES:
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
