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Topline:
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has filed two new public corruption charges against L.A. City Councilmember Curren Price.
The charges: The D.A. said in a statement Tuesday that prosecutors filed the charges after uncovering evidence that the city’s housing authority and LA Metro paid Price’s wife more than $800,000 at the same time Price voted to award the agencies multimillion-dollar contracts.
What the D.A. says: “Embezzling public funds and awarding contracts for your own financial gain is the antithesis of public service,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. “Self-dealing and pay-to-play politics will not be tolerated in Los Angeles County.”
What about Price? A Price spokesperson called the latest charges nothing more than an attempt to “pile on to a weak case.” The spokesperson told LAist there is no evidence that Price was aware of the alleged conflicts when he voted for the projects. Price represents the 9th Council District, which includes USC, Exposition Park and neighborhoods south of downtown L.A.
The Backstory: Price, 74, was already facing five felony counts of embezzlement of government funds, three felony counts of perjury and two felony counts of conflict of interest related to votes he took on projects that benefitted his wife. Price has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
What’s next: Price is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.
Go deeper… on the charges against Price and his suspension.