The Board of Supervisors voted in October to conduct the audit in an effort to ensure transparency in the county’s contracting procedures, which came into question following Ridley-Thomas’ indictment on federal bribery and conspiracy charges.
Federal prosecutors contend, in part, that Ridley-Thomas directed lucrative county contracts to the USC School of Social Work, in exchange for Ridley-Thomas’ son receiving graduate school admission, a full-tuition scholarship and a paid professorship at the university. Ridley-Thomas, who now serves on the Los Angeles City Council but has been suspended from his duties while the criminal case is pending, has denied any wrongdoing.
On Thursday, the county announced that it has hired the firm of Covington & Burling to conduct the audit of its contracting policies and processes. The firm is based in Washington, D.C., but has offices in Los Angeles. The firm’s auditing team will be led by Carolyn Kubota and Dan Shallman, who are both former federal prosecutors in Los Angeles.
According to the Board of Supervisors’ direction, the audit will review “all county service contracts in all supervisorial districts with a significant cumulative monetary value approved by this board between the years 2008-2020, or such other timeframe that is consistent with best auditing practices” including “the county service contracts referenced in the federal allegations, and the associated county processes and policies in place.”
Ridley-Thomas served on the Board of Supervisors from 2008 to 2020.
Previous related stories:
August trial date set in Ridley-Thomas corruption case
Trial date not yet scheduled in Ridley-Thomas corruption case
Former USC dean pleads not guilty in Ridley-Thomas corruption case
Mark Ridley-Thomas, ex-USC dean indicted in alleged bribery scheme
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Voters beware, connect the dots. Enough is enough. says
Funny wasn’t it Mark Ridley Thomas that was on the Ethics Committee at one time and pointed the finger at his opponent Grace Yoo in 2020, when clearly Mark Ridley Thomas was up to his neck in the alleged corruption, based on his indictment? Reporting Yoo’s alleged “ethics” violation to the Ethics Commission?
I remember many questions about Mark Ridley over the years.
When Mark Ridley-Thomas acknowledged home improvements by county workers in 2014, LA Times article by Paul Pringle and Jack Leonard and Los Angeles Times article “City probing county Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas’ garage” article by Paul Pringle and Jack Leonard also in 2014.
‘No one should be surprised’: Former LAPD chief says FBI interest in Ridley-Thomas goes back years article dated October 22, 2021 KNIX Radio by Jake Flanagin.
https://www.audacy.com/knxnews/news/local/ex-lapd-chief-fbi-looked-into-mark-ridley-thomas-in-2008
“How much due process do you need when the union itself has verified that (Mr. Freeman) used union dues to pay for his wedding? To use union dues and $9 an hour employees to pay for a Cigar Club membership? How much due process do you need before you stand up and say, ‘Stop doing what you are doing’ to make sure these people are not harmed any more. I think the connection between this illegal money and his campaign is very clear. ”
Brad Parks October 31, 2008
https://www.thefrontpageonline.com/news/parks-answer-to-ridley-thomas-how-many-lies-do-you-get-to-tell
And what about appointing indicted former Los Angeles County Employee Thomas Shepos as the county’s “sole” representative for the lease amendment for the Castiac Library, that is not appropriate, it needs to be Thomas Shepos or other county representative.
Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Speaking of Elections Commission, this is an interesting news article:
https://2urbangirls.com/2022-02-ethics-commission-votes-to-have-state-appoint-hearing-judge-for-englander-case/
Clara Rodríguez says
A little late to the party, don’t you think for an ethics commission? What a joke. Here was MRT pointing his finger in 2020 to his opponent Grace Yoo when MRT was up to his neck in alleged corruption based on his indictment. What a dog and pony show! Don’t forget inappropriate dealings with Thomas Shepos naming him soul representative for the amended lease on the Castaic library. Many knew Thomas Shepos was corrupt before his indictment.