Senators are reviewing L.A. mayor's testimony that he didn't know about alleged sexual harassment by a top advisor. Here's the evidence lawmakers may be considering.
A city-commissioned report sent to the U.S. Senate found no improper behavior by Mayor Eric Garcetti or a former key advisor. The lawyer for an LAPD officer suing the city attacked the credibility of the report.
Garza attorney Greg Smith said the report lacks credibility, in part because some key individuals were not interviewed, including Bernard. Also declining to be interviewed were Naomi Seligman and Suzi Emmerling, two former mayoral communications directors who have said Jacobs’ misconduct was widely known.
Seligman said in her deposition in the Garza case that she saw Jacobs hugging and kissing people in ways that were clearly unwanted, while the mayor was at close hand. Asked whether Garcetti might have missed seeing those moments, Seligman testified: “If he chose not to.” Seligman has accused those casting doubt on the kissing incident as being part of a culture of silence in the mayor’s office.
The chief of staff and others acknowledged seeing Jacobs kiss others on the lips in social situations, but they said it did not seem unwanted or inappropriate. Former Garcetti spokeswoman Anna Bahr said last month that Jacobs’ sexual harassment of others was “something everyone talked about” in the mayor’s office.Testimony showed that Garcetti spokesman Alex Comisar sent a text to a co-worker in which he commented: “Got hit on by Rick again.” Comisar later testified that he did not know what the message meant. He also told lawyers in the Garza case that he could not recall ever complaining about Jacobs’ behavior.