In a stunning development, confidential FBI documents allege that former Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer misled federal authorities and likely obstructed justice during an investigation into a fraudulent lawsuit scheme orchestrated by his own office. The explosive allegations are contained in a January 2020 affidavit by FBI Special Agent Andrew Civetti in support of a search warrant for Feuer’s iCloud account. In this article we talk about Former Los Angeles City Attorney Misled Federal Authorities, FBI Confidential Documents Suggest.
The affidavit, made public on Tuesday after media outlets moved to unseal court records, paints a troubling picture of Feuer’s potential misconduct. According to Civetti, “multiple sources of evidence” indicated Feuer obstructed justice and made “materially misleading statements” to the FBI about his knowledge of key events surrounding the bogus lawsuit ploy.
At the heart of the scandal was a scheme by the City Attorney’s office to file a sham class-action lawsuit against the city over erroneous utility bills from the Department of Water and Power (DWP). By colluding with an outside attorney to act as a “friendly” plaintiff, the city aimed to control the litigation and settlement on favorable terms.
However, the plan went awry when a Beverly Hills legal assistant threatened to expose the scheme unless paid nearly $1 million in hush money. The affidavit alleges Feuer not only knew about these threats but “impliedly directed” one of his top deputies, Thomas Peters, to ensure the demands were met through a secret $800,000 payment.
Despite Feuer’s longstanding denials of any knowledge about collusion or the hush money plot, Civetti’s affidavit suggests otherwise based on Peters’ statements, calendar entries, text messages, and recorded calls. The agent accuses Feuer of a “narrative of apparent obfuscation, false and misleading statements, and omissions” motivated by political ambition, noting Feuer told investigators he wanted to run for mayor in 2022.
Conflicting Accounts and Obstruction Allegations
While Feuer has maintained he only learned about his office’s collusive lawsuit involvement in April 2019, the affidavit contradicts this timeline. According to Peters’ account cited in the document, he informed Feuer about the legal assistant’s threats as early as fall 2017, with follow-up discussions in December 2017 and a pivotal January 2019 meeting.
At that January 2019 gathering, Peters claimed he warned Feuer that incriminating documents proving the City Attorney’s office drafted the sham lawsuit were likely to become public. Civetti describes Feuer as being in “a state of extreme shock” and “highly emotional and visibly upset, covering his face with his hands for a long period.”
After this meeting, Peters allegedly called the outside attorneys involved at “Mike’s request” – referring to Feuer – with a plan to address the impending document leak, according to a surreptitious recording cited in the affidavit.
The allegations of Feuer misleading the FBI about his knowledge of events and obstructing the investigation arise from his statements to agents in July 2019 during raids on City Hall. Civetti asserts Feuer’s answers about the lawsuit’s origins and his awareness of it were “material and misleading.”
Feuer has vigorously denied any wrongdoing, stating this week: “Any claim that I knew about collusion and tried to conceal it is absurd. I cooperated fully with the U.S. Attorney’s staff and am glad they ultimately obtained all the actual facts.” He accused Peters of lying and questioned the affidavit’s credibility.
However, Peters stood by his statements to the FBI, telling the LA Times: “I am pleased, but not at all surprised, to see that my statements to the FBI about Feuer were corroborated by multiple, independent sources.”
Unanswered Questions and Fallout
Despite the damning affidavit, federal prosecutors never charged Feuer with obstruction, lying to investigators, or any other crimes related to the scandal. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office declined to comment on the lack of charges but stated they did not pursue cases where evidence fell short of proving federal crimes beyond a reasonable doubt.
Three individuals did face convictions, including Peters (for aiding extortion), the outside attorney who filed the sham lawsuit, and a former DWP cybersecurity chief involved in a bribery ploy. Feuer requested and received a letter from prosecutors in 2022 stating he was not a target, and they informed media outlets late last year that the probe was closed.
The newly unsealed records, totaling around 1,400 pages of search warrants and materials, offer long-awaited insights into what investigators uncovered about Feuer’s potential culpability. However, they also raise fresh questions about why the former City Attorney avoided charges despite the FBI agent’s stark claims of misleading statements and implied obstruction.
As a longtime political figure who cultivated an ethical “Saint Michael” reputation, the corruption allegations represent a stunning rebuke of Feuer’s public image. While he maintains his innocence, the affidavit’s revelations deal a substantial blow and leave a cloud of doubt hanging over the former top Los Angeles prosecutor.
Only time will tell if further investigations or revelations emerge. But for now, the FBI documents have ignited a political firestorm, casting Feuer’s legacy in a harsh new light and underlining how swiftly fortunes can shift when scandal touches the highest echelons of power. I sincerely hope you find this “Former Los Angeles City Attorney Misled Federal Authorities? FBI Confidential Documents Suggest” article helpful.
Ruby Arora is the lead writer at LosAngelesDailyNews.net, where she brings her extensive expertise in journalism and communications to cover Los Angeles’ vibrant culture and breaking news. Ruby holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and has a track record of delivering insightful and accurate stories. Connect with her on Instagram and YouTube for more updates and behind-the-scenes content.
