Warrants to search homes of Supervisor Kuehl and others were properly obtained by LASD, judge rules
A judge has ruled the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department properly obtained warrants to search the home of county Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and other locations targeted in a political corruption probe, but he ordered the agency to turn over any items seized in the searches to the California attorney general's office, which has taken over the investigation.
During a hearing in downtown Los Angeles, Ryan rebuffed requests by attorneys for Kuehl, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the nonprofit group Peace Over Violence to have the seized equipment returned. Attorneys argued that not having the equipment -- including computers and hard drives -- was hampering their clients' ability to do their jobs.
The state Attorney General's Office announced Tuesday it was taking over the investigation, which was being carried out by the Sheriff's Department's Public Corruption Unit. Some critics have assailed the unit as targeting political opponents of Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who has denied the allegation.
Sheriff's investigators last week served the search warrants at the homes of Kuehl and Giggans. They also searched their offices, along with offices at Metro and the Metro Office of Inspector General.