LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Attorneys for Jose Huizar have filed papers arguing that the bribery case against the ex-Los Angeles city councilman should be tossed because the alleged conduct does not violate laws charged in the 41-count federal racketeering indictment.
Huizar, the central figure in a six-year probe of suspected corruption in City Hall politics, and his associates were allegedly involved in a $1.5 million pay-to-play scheme in which real estate developers were shaken down for cash and campaign donations in exchange for help getting building projects through the city's approval process.
The defense argues that the federal corruption statutes brought against the defendants are "overbroad," repeatedly transgress the Supreme Court's limits on such charges, or violate the statute of limitations.
In the indictment, prosecutors unfairly confuse favors as bribes, deeming that First Amendment-protected contributions are crimes, and treat "virtually everything that Huizar did as an 'official act' no matter how informal or disconnected from government power," according to the defense motion for dismissal obtained by City News Service.
The federal probe also ensnared political operatives, lobbyists, developers, and Raymond Chan, who formerly was the general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety and, more recently, was the city's deputy mayor of economic development.
Huizar, who represented downtown LA and was the chairman of the Planning and Land Use Management Committee, has denied all charges against him.
Huizar's only crime was acting as an "evangelist for robust development" whose mission as representative of Council District 14 was to bring hotels, apartments, jobs, tourism and entertainment to the city's downtown, defense attorneys argue.
A hearing in Los Angeles federal court to discuss the motion is set for Nov. 15. Huizar and Chan are expected to face trial next May.
The defense argues that Huizar and Chan saw it as their responsibility to bring development and businesses to downtown Los Angeles. Partly as a result of their work, "the region became a livable and attractive destination for locals and tourists alike. During this period, nearly everyone in Los Angeles talked or heard about how much downtown had improved," the document filed Tuesday says.
"Huizar's ability to raise money from developers — who, like other interests, supported him because he supported them — helped to fund not only homelessness initiatives, but the campaigns of some of the most prominent local, state, and national politicians," the defense states.
However, the federal indictment "reimagines this period as one permeated by corruption," and charges Huizar and Chan "with selling out their constituents and running (the council district) as a criminal enterprise," according to Huizar's attorney.
Other alleged members of the conspiracy were George Esparza, Huizar's former special assistant, real estate development consultant George Chiang, and fundraiser Justin Kim, each of whom pleaded guilty last year to federal charges.