FBI searches office of Los Angeles city councilman: report

FBI agents reportedly searched the City Hall offices of Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar Wednesday, The Los Angeles Times reported.

More than 15 people wearing FBI jackets went in and out of Huizar’s office, one city employee told the Times.

An FBI photographer was also observed entering the office and people reportedly carried boxes out of the office when they left.

{mosads}Huizar’s spokesman did not immediately respond to the Times’ request for comment.

His press office referred The Hill to Huizar’s attorney, Stephen Kaufman, who said over the phone, “We are currently assessing the situation and have no further comment at this time.”

The FBI Special Agent supervising the search warrant at Huizar’s office, David Nanz, declined to comment on the purpose of the search to the Times.

The FBI Los Angeles Field Office spokesperson Laura Eimiller told The Hill in a statement, “The FBI is executing a federal search warrant at an office inside Los Angeles City Hall.”

“The affidavit in support of the search warrant has been sealed by the court and so I am prohibited from commenting on the nature of the investigation,” she wrote. “There is no threat to public safety. No arrests are planned.”

The Times reports Huizar faces the end of his term in two years and is working to elect his wife, Richelle Huizar, to his seat in 2020. 

Two of the city councilman’s former staffers have sued the city over the last two weeks according to the Times’ previous reporting.

Both have alleged that Huizar had an affair with a staffer, the Times reported.

They also complained of staffers being asked to do personal tasks for Huizar such as picking up his children for school or working on Mrs. Huizar’s campaign on the city’s time.

Huizar has passionately denied all the accusations.