Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva hinted Tuesday that a local reporter who has extensively covered allegations he directed a cover-up of an excessive force incident might be under criminal investigation.
According to Los Angeles Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian, Villanueva allegedly launched a cover-up after learning a deputy kneeled on a cuffed inmate’s head for three minutes in March 2021. On Monday, Tchekmedyian reported that a legal claim had been filed against Villanueva, alleging that the sheriff had obstructed justice and retaliated against those who tried to expose him.
But in a Tuesday press conference to address “false claims made in a recent lawsuit filed by a disgruntled employee,” Villanueva again denied those allegations before offering a timeline of events following the use of force incident—which, according to Tchekmedyian’s reporting, the sheriff and a lieutenant learned about just five days after it occurred. Villanueva then showed a slide including a press photo of Tchekmedyian, who was present at the press conference, alongside Eliezer Vera, a chief in the Sheriff’s Department who is running against Villanueva to lead it, and Max Huntsman, its Inspector General—who were both involved at one point in the investigation into the alleged cover-up.
ADVERTISEMENT
“So these are the three individuals we want to know a lot about,” Villanueva said about the slide, implying that the Vera and Huntsman had access to the investigation materials, including a video of the incident, he said “landed” in Tchekmedyian’s hands. “These three people have some important questions to answer.”
“This is stolen property that was removed illegally from people who had some intent—criminal intent—and it’ll be subject to investigation,” Villanueva added.
Later, when asked whether Tchekmedyian is under investigation, Villanueva clarified that “the matter is under investigation… all parties to the act are party to the investigation.” At another point in the press conference, however, Villanueva argued that the Los Angeles Times is working “in concert and coordination” with the inspector general’s office and his political component to derail his ongoing campaign.
“I’m sure that’s a complicated part of the law, freedom of the press and all that,” he added. “A lot of people are working overtime and they’re doing it as best they can, so there will be more of this nonsense thrown at me until June 7.”
In a statement to The Daily Beast, Los Angeles Times Executive Editor Kevin Merida said that “Villanueva’s attack on Alene Tchekmedyian’s First Amendment rights for doing newsworthy reporting on a video that showed a deputy kneeling on a handcuffed inmate’s head is outrageous.”
“His attempt to criminalize news reporting goes against well-established constitutional law,” Merida added. “We will vigorously defend Tchekmedyian’s and the Los Angeles Times’ rights in any proceeding or investigation brought by authorities.”
The paper said that there would be “no additional statement from Alene.”
Asking for comment after the press conference, the Sheriff’s Department said it “is unable to comment any further due to several active ongoing investigations, pending litigation, including a criminal investigation. What we can say is, Sheriff Alex Villanueva is committed to transparency and accountability.”
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press took a dimmer view, condemning the “appalling” announcement of a “criminal investigation into a journalist because of her reporting” as “blatantly retaliatory conduct” that is “beyond the pale, and violates the First Amendment.”
On Tuesday night, Villanueva seemed to blame the press for reporting on his press conference, tweeting that “Resulting from the incredible frenzy of misinformation being circulated, I must clarify at no time today did I state an LA Times reporter was a suspect in a criminal investigation. We have no interest in pursuing, nor are we pursuing, criminal charges against any reporters."
Assigning himself the role of media critic, he added: “What should be of interest is the fact the LA Times refuses to acknowledge their reporting, and the account of a disgruntled employee, were thoroughly debunked during today’s press conference.”
This is not the first time Villanueva has been accused of targeting his critics. Last September, the department’s Civilian Oversight Commission concluded that the sheriff was targeting his critics with an investigative unit of deputies to open criminal inquiries into his enemies. Villanueva has dismissed the allegations, saying that his team is a tool for fighting corruption.
Last month, the Times reported how the sheriff’s department allegedly worked to cover up the March 2021 excessive force incident because they feared it could paint them in a “negative light.” The report also came with surveillance video from the San Fernando Courthouse, which shows the deputy kneeling on the inmate after he was already cuffed. The newspaper’s reports were bolstered by the news of a legal claim from a department commander on Monday, which directly pointed the finger at Villanueva—stating that he knew about the incident shortly after it occurred but chose not to launch an investigation into the matter.
“We do not need bad media at this time,” Villanueva allegedly said, according to the Times and the legal claim.
