L.A. retains law agency to examine Rick Jacobs accusations

The city of Los Angeles has hired an outside the house legislation agency to look into allegations that Rick Jacobs, a longtime political guide to Mayor Eric Garcetti, sexually harassed an L.A. police officer who served as a bodyguard for Garcetti.

Term of the employing will come as new accusations of misconduct by Jacobs surfaced this week.

“Our place of work has retained an outside investigator to do an impartial investigation,” Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for Town Atty. Mike Feuer, explained Wednesday. He declined to give any further details.

Two sources explained to The Periods that the city has retained Leslie Ellis of the Ellis & Makus law agency, who is a specialist in delicate office investigations, to study the allegations involving Jacobs. She is searching for to job interview the LAPD officer who built the preliminary complaint and many others, the resources mentioned.

A supply reported the law organization was employed as component of the town attorney’s illustration of the city in the officer’s case.

The outside the house organization was employed in September, an arrangement that arrived to light Wednesday.

The police officer sued the town in July, alleging that he was sexually harassed by Jacobs, which Jacobs has denied. The lawsuit promises Garcetti witnessed inappropriate actions by Jacobs towards the officer but did not prevent it. Garcetti has denied looking at any inappropriate conduct.

Journalist Yashar Ali this 7 days also accused Jacobs of sexual misconduct.

The Times noted Wednesday that two other adult men stated they have been the targets of unwanted touching or harassment by Jacobs.

A person guy reported Jacobs groped him when he was leaving a get together at Jacobs’ dwelling in 2012. The other guy — a longtime Democratic strategist — informed The Situations he was conversing to good friends at an occasion last 12 months when Jacobs strode over. “He tried out to hug and kiss me forcibly,” the male claimed.

Neither person would agree to enable his name to be released, citing fears of retaliation. Jacobs did not respond to questions about the men’s allegations.

Jacobs stated Tuesday night that he will “take a leave” from his operate amid growing questions about the allegations. Jacobs is a political advisor to Garcetti, a board member and treasurer for the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles and the chief of a further nonprofit concentrated on financial enhancement.

Ellis’ site states she has “extensive knowledge conducting neutral investigations for non-public and community companies all through California” and “investigates a assortment of issues, which includes place of work harassment, fraud and compliance, whistleblower complaints and sexual assault.”

Los Angeles Law enforcement Section communications director Josh Rubenstein mentioned there is no inner affairs investigation of the officer’s allegations since they do not involve misconduct by LAPD personnel.