California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued his opinion on the matter of whether an indicted member of the Los Angeles City Council can fight to resume his position on the city council after being suspended by its voting members.
The city council suspended Ridley-Thomas one week after he was named in a 21 count indictment due to a donation made to USC through one of his campaign accounts. The donation went from Ridley-Thomas, to USC, by way of the United Way to a think tank run by Sebastian Ridley-Thomas.
Before the indictment was announced last fall, the former Compton City Attorney Damon Brown abruptly left the council after being elected. He rebounded in the Civil Rights division of Bonta’s office, who issued the opinion.
Was this ruling for political favor? Why is MRT fighting so hard to get back in his council seat?
Do residents want to be represented by someone facing a 21 count federal indictment?
Read the full opinion here.
