Los Angeles' Deputy Mayor of Public Safety has been placed on administrative leave after a bomb threat made against City Hall earlier this year was traced back to him, officials say.
Mayor Karen Bass office made the announcement about Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Brian Williams on Wednesday afternoon. On Tuesday, Mayor Bass' office was notified by the FBI that Williams was involved in an investigation being conducted by the Bureau, and that his home was searched, reported ABC 7.
"The mayor takes this matter very seriously," Deputy Mayor of Communications Zach Seidl said in a statement. "When the threat was reported, LAPD investigated and determined there was no immediate danger. Following additional investigation, LAPD referred this matter to the FBI for further investigation."
Seidl continued to state that Williams "was immediately placed on administrative leave."
A statement from the Los Angeles Police Department identified Williams as most likely to be the "source of the threat."
The LAPD is unable to be involved in the investigations into Williams due to the nature of Williams' role, which mandates that he work closely with the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Port of Los Angeles Police, the Los Angeles World Airport Police and the city's Emergency Management Department.
"Due to the department's working relationship with Mr. Williams, the investigation was referred to the FBI," LAPD said in a statement. "The FBI remains the investigating agency."
"My number one job as Mayor is to keep Angelenos safe," Bass said in a statement. "The only way to do that is to hold people who commit crimes accountable and to take real steps to prevent crime from happening in the first place."
Williams' lawyer, Dmitri Gorin, also released a statement defending his client. Gorin stated that Williams "strongly maintains his innocence and intends to vigorously fight the allegations."
"Importantly, he has not been arrested, nor charged, and will continue cooperating with the investigation through his attorneys," the statement continued.
Williams' appointment to his current role was announced by Bass in early 2023. Before this, he served as the executive director of the Los Angeles County Civilian Oversight Commission, where he oversaw the Sheriff's Department.
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