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Villaraigosa Ticketgate: The Ethics Commission Strikes Back! Mayor to Pay Almost $42K in Fines for Freebies
Mayor Villaraigosa sits next to George Lopez courtside at a Lakers Game in 2006 (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Ticketgate might have faded from the headlines, but not from the scrutiny of the state Fair Political Practices Commission and the city Ethics Commission, and now Villaraigosa has agreed to pay almost $42,000 in fines to settle up the years'-long matter of taking tickets to functions as unreported gifts, according to LA Now.
The terms of the fine payment are included in a pact draft recently authored by officials. In his statement about the fine, Villaraigosa took responsibility for having accepted free tickets to high profile sporting, music, and entertainment events.
Villaraigosa faced over $167,000 in potential fines, however the commission found that " his violations were unintentional and that he made a 'good faith' attempt to comply with the law." During his first five years in office, Villaraigosa accepted free tickets to at least 85 events, though he claims he was not breaking the law because he was in some form or capacity performing "official duties" while there.
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