Democratic donor Ed Buck charged with running drug house where two men died

Democratic donor Ed Buck was charged on Tuesday with running a drug house out of his Los Angeles apartment where two men have died from overdoses, officials said.

Buck was also charged with providing methamphetamine to a man who overdosed last week, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said that Buck is charged with one felony count each of battery causing serious injury, administering methamphetamine and maintaining a drug house. He is due to be arraigned in court Wednesday.{mosads}

Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a statement that she remains “deeply concerned for the safety of people whose life circumstances may make them more vulnerable to criminal predators.” 

Prosecutors in a motion say Buck should be held on $4 million bail because he is a “violent, dangerous sexual predator” who “mainly preys on men made vulnerable by addiction and homelessness,” according to CBS News. 

Buck’s attorney told the network that he would “vigorously” fight the charges.

In the latest incident, the district attorney’s office says Buck injected the victim with methamphetamine at Buck’s apartment, adding that the man survived.

That incident follows two deaths at Buck’s home, the most recent occurring in January. Another man died from an overdose there in 2017. Charges were not filed against Buck in either death.

Buck, who has worked on LGBTQ issues, has donated money to prominent Democrats including former President Obama, 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

At least half a dozen Democrats who have received contributions from Buck have donated or returned that money.