RedState reports here, here and here that the Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti nomination for Ambassador to India was halted by allegations that Garcetti knew about Rick Jacobs’ sexual misconduct but did nothing to address it. Matthew Garza from Los Angeles Police is now suing Jacobs as well as the City of Los Angeles over this alleged misconduct. Additional allegations have been lodged by Garcetti’s former communications director Naomi Seligman through a whistleblower complaint.
This was enough for Senator Chuck Grassley to put Garcetti’s nomination on hold pending his own staff’s investigation into what Garcetti knew, and when he knew it.
It was March.
On Tuesday, Sen. Grassley’s office released a statement, along with the full 23-page investigative report (the “Grassley report”) with its findings and conclusions.
Senator Grassley’s office also stated that the senator would not vote to confirm Garcetti as Ambassador to India. We have enough squishes on the Republican side to push him through, but with a 50-50 Senate, it’s not looking good for Mayor Yoga Pants.
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Grassley’s subsequent investigation involved interviews with 15 witnesses, a review of 26 depositions that came from a civil suit against Jacobs and a City of Los Angeles report, as well as emails and text messages that were turned over to investigators. Despite the Grassley investigators’ attempts to speak with the individuals at the center of the allegations, Jacobs and 11 other people “working for or close to Mayor Garcetti refused” to speak with investigators. Garcetti refused to speak with investigators in three different instances.
Well that’s pretty damning. If you are so desperate to become an ambassador you might want to take the time to participate in a powerful senator’s investigation. Garcetti probably was too involved in the SuperBowl parties and cuddling with former athletes stars.
The Grassley Report:
According to information gathered by Committee investigators it seems more likely than not that Jacobs sexually harassed several individuals and made racist remarks towards others. This behavior is well-known, common, and widespread according to witness testimony. Multiple witnesses testified that Mayor Garcetti knew of such behavior. It is probable, based upon the frequency of these incidents and the obvious nature of their conduct, that Mayor Garcetti should know or had direct knowledge.
We reach these conclusions based on witness testimony, documents, physical evidence, and Mr. Jacobs’ own admissions.
The Grassley report includes deeper dives into the background knowledge of a photo which shows Rick Jacobs groping one of the men also posing, while Garcetti gives a “thumbs up.” The report also includes text messages between former Garcetti Comms Director Alex Comisar (male), and Naomi Seligman (female) discussing the abuse they both suffered by Jacobs’ hand. According to the report, Jacobs appears to be an equal opportunity predator that Garcetti wants around him at all costs.
India is known for exploiting children and women of poverty. Garcetti literally co-signing Jacobs’ behavior for his ambassadorship.
Just saying….
The Grassley study concluded:
By all accounts, Mr. Jacobs’ behavior was widely known and talked about. It was pervasive, widespread, and notorious—to the point that Mr. Jacobs sexually harassed someone in front of the Mayor for a picture that would be memorialized for all time. At best, such outlandish conduct indicates that Jacobs did not fear any possible repercussions. The fact that senior staff knew about the situation but did not do anything to change it, further suggests that such behavior is normalized. Even if the Mayor was aware, there would be no consequences.
According to all reports, Mayor Garcetti was very involved with the daily operations of his office. The testimony and documents reviewed by investigators, when considered alongside Mr. Jacobs’ own admissions, the mayor’s admission of his awareness of Mr. Jacobs’ habits to kiss and hug others, and the apparent frequency, notoriety, and widespread acknowledgment of Mr. Jacobs’ behavior by so many individuals both inside and outside City Hall who interacted with the Mayor’s office, weigh strongly against the notion that the Mayor had no knowledge of it. It is extremely unlikely that he would not have been aware of Mr. Jacobs’ behavior.
On the basis of a majority of evidence, it is probable that Garcetti was aware or should have known Rick Jacobs had been sexually harassing many people and making racist comments toward others.
A Senate rejection of Garcetti’s ambassadorship post would be an appropriate end to Garcetti’s decades-long malfeasance and corruption that he has inflicted upon Los Angeles during his 12 years in the City Council and his eight years as the mayor. Is it fair to reward this kind of behavior?
It will do exactly that if the Senate permits Garcetti to have his death taken international. This will confirm the cover-up that is underway since Garcetti would not be allowed to be returned to the United States under any criminal or civil charges.
Convenient.
If Garcetti is not confirmed, it’s pretty much his endgame. Garcetti is now Mayor of Los Angeles. His savage record in homelessness, crime and defunding LAPD has seen Garcetti leave the city in an awful place. While Rick Jacobs’ allegations are still under review, Garcetti is now the Mayor of Los Angeles. The office of Mayor also remains in chaos. Garcetti will no longer have the protections of a higher office, and from the looks of things, he doesn’t have any allies who hold higher office either. If that’s the case, Garcetti will no doubt be swept up in Jacobs’ iniquitous actions and his own complicity in them. His own criminal acts will also be exposed.
Garcetti leaves the stage at the end, but Garcetti cannot let go of the podium soon enough.
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