BREAKING: Sen. Grassley Investigation Finds Mayor Garcetti Aware of Sexual Misconduct by Senior Advisor

Tuesday, United States Sen. Chuck Grassley’s office released a press statement of the status of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s pending ambassadorship, after having his staff do their own in-depth investigation into the sexual harassment allegations in Garcetti’s office, including interviews with 15 witnesses as well as examinations of 26 depositions and other documentary evidence including emails and text messages in a 23-page report.

Last week the Globe reported Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s hopes of becoming the nation’s next ambassador to India appear to be on life support. Globe contributor Thomas Buckley even asked, “Going, going, naan’ unless he meets with Sen. Chuck Grassley?”

On Mayor Eric Garcetti’s recent trip to Washington, D.C., the mayor was spotted in and around Capitol Hill, but declined to stop in the office of the one Senator that not only has definitely asked him to meet but also holds his nomination in his hands: Iowa Republican, Sen. Chuck Grassley.

Garcetti faced his only actual Senate confirmation hearing for Ambassador to India last December in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. During that hearing, he was asked a single question about the numerous allegations of sexual harassment of his Deputy Chief of Staff Rick Jacobs, and denied even being aware of the allegations, let alone of having direct knowledge of the alleged egregious activities.

“I want to say unequivocally that I never witnessed, nor was it brought to my attention, the behavior that’s been alleged, and I also want to assure you if it had been, I would have immediately taken action to stop that,” Garcetti said.

Grassley put a “hold” on Garcetti’s nomination in order to further investigate allegations that Jacobs was a serial and physical sexual harasser and whether or not Garcetti lied during his Senate conformation testimony.

Tuesday’s press release from Sen. Chuck Grassley:

Grassley Releases Staff Review of Garcetti’s Awareness of Misconduct by Former Senior Advisor

Garcetti testified at nominations hearing that he was unaware of misconduct; numerous whistleblowers dispute this claim

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), today released the findings of a staff review examining whether Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, nominee to be ambassador to India, was aware of allegations of misconduct by a former senior advisor. The review comprises interviews with 15 witnesses as well as examinations of 26 depositions and other documentary evidence including emails and text messages. Grassley’s investigative staff concluded that Garcetti likely knew, or should have known, that his former senior advisor was sexually harassing and making racist remarks toward multiple individuals. These findings contradict Garcetti’s testimony at a nominations hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Read the staff findings HERE.

Grassley’s office first became aware of claims that Garcetti misled Congress after another Senate office referred a whistleblower to Grassley’s Oversight and Investigations unit – a team of staff with experience investigating misconduct and protecting whistleblowers from reprisal. Grassley notified colleagues that he would object to any effort to unanimously approve Garcetti’s nomination while his investigation was ongoing. He later noted his staff had received multiple versions of a report commissioned by the city of Los Angeles examining Garcetti’s awareness of misconduct by a senior advisor. This includes a version of the report that had not previously been shared with Congress. Grassley’s staff also spoke to several whistleblowers who hadn’t been in contact with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Grassley is making these findings public in the interest of transparency and for the benefit of his colleagues as the Senate fulfills its advice and consent duties. Following the completion of the investigation, Grassley is lifting his hold on the nomination. However, based on what he has learned, Grassley intends to vote “no” if the nomination is considered by the full Senate.

Throughout the investigation, Grassley’s staff made multiple offers to speak with Garcetti.  However, Garcetti’s staff did not schedule a discussion.

The Senator’s staff reported: “Based on information obtained by Committee investigators, it is more probable than not that Mr. Jacobs sexually harassed multiple individuals, and made racist comments towards others. Based on witness testimony, this behavior was pervasive, widespread, and notorious. Several individuals told investigators that Mayor Garcetti was aware of this behavior, and based on the reported frequency and conspicuous nature of the conduct, it is more likely than not that Mayor Garcetti either had personal knowledge of the sexual harassment or should have been aware of it.”

Sen. Grassley “lifted his hold” on Garcetti’s nomination for apparent procedural reasons, but it doesn’t look good for Garcetti’s Indian dreams.

Sen. Grassley’s 23-page staff investigation report is HERE and below: