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Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva stirred up a hornet’s nest Tuesday when he announced an investigation into a Los Angeles Times reporter who last month had exposed a cover-up at his department.
In a report published on March 25th, Times journalist Alene Tchekmedyian claimed the department had “attempted to cover up an incident in which a deputy knelt on the head of a handcuffed inmate for three minutes because they feared the ‘negative light’ it could shed on the department.”
The report included surveillance footage showing a rowdy inmate punching an officer, then being tackled to the ground and held in place — partly by a knee to the neck — for several minutes.
Watch the footage below:
Fast-forward a month to Tuesday, April 26th, when Villanueva held a press conference during which he accused Tchekmedyian of having received the illegally obtained surveillance footage from two of his political rivals.
“Detailing an ongoing criminal probe of the leak, Villanueva displayed a poster with large photographs of Tchekmedyian, his political rival Eli Vera and sheriff’s Inspector General Max Huntsman with arrows pointing from the two men to the reporter,” according to the Times.
“Villanueva exhibited a list of possible felonies under investigation, including conspiracy, burglary and unauthorized use of a database. When pressed by reporters on whether he was investigating Tchekmedyian specifically, the sheriff replied, ‘All parties to the act are subjects of the investigation.'”
Listen:
In a stunning moment, Los Angeles Co Sheriff Alex Villanueva revealed LASD is investigating his political opponent @Vera4Sheriff, the Inspector General and LA Times reporter @AleneTchek, after leaked video exposed a deputy kneeling on a handcuffed inmate’s head. @SpecNews1SoCal pic.twitter.com/D7sTgBeEvc
— Kate Cagle (@KateCagle) April 26, 2022
His words triggered an outpouring of searing criticism.
“His attempt to criminalize news reporting goes against well-established constitutional law. We will vigorously defend Tchekmedyian’s and the Los Angeles Times’ rights in any proceeding or investigation brought by authorities,” The Times executive editor Kevin Merida said in a statement.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis meanwhile released a public statement asking California Attorney General Rob Bonta to “investigate his pattern of unconscionable and dangerous actions like the one today.”
“Sadly, Sheriff Villanueva has a habit of attacking, maligning, and threatening those who oversee or report on his misconduct,” she said.
But the criticism wound up extending way beyond just Los Angeles County, with everybody from far-left commentator Keith Olbermann to author Thomas Peele and many others chiming in.
Look:
It’s not stunning.
Villanueva has proved himself again and again to be an anti-democracy militarist politician posing as a peace officer. He needs to be removed immediately, and criminally prosecuted.
The @LASDHQ has been totally corrupted by this one rogue cop. He has to go. https://t.co/v0zrvkNEJA
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) April 26, 2022
This is an incredibly brazen attack on the the free press. All journalists must stand behind @AleneTchek and the right to report on government abuse. @LACoSheriff Villanueva is unfit for public office. He must resign or supervisors must push him out. #1amendment https://t.co/MtHhsLbyXm
— Thomas Peele (@thomas_peele) April 26, 2022
Is this @TheOnion post? There’s a reason the First Amendment is positioned first, and the media is included in it. Taxpayers need the media to act as watchdogs to keep Government honest. This is something right out of an authoritarian strongman playbook. Angelinos deserve better.
— Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) April 26, 2022
BREAKING: Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva comes under intense criticism after admitting that his men are investigating LA Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian after she exposed a video of a deputy kneeling on a handcuffed inmate’s head. RT IF YOU THINK VILLANUEVA MUST RESIGN!
— Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) April 26, 2022
Note that many of these same parties were quick to defend the authorities when pro-life activists David Daleiden and Susan Merritt were persecuted years ago for releasing undercover surveillance footage of the happenings at Planned Parenthood.
In fairness to the Times, they defended the pair. In an op-ed published in 2017, the paper’s editorial board slammed then-California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for charging Daleiden and Merritt with 15 felony counts.
“It’s disturbingly aggressive for Becerra to apply this criminal statute to people who were trying to influence a contested issue of public policy, regardless of how sound or popular that policy may be. Planned Parenthood and biomedical company StemExpress, which was also featured in the videos, have another remedy for the harm that was done to them: They can sue Daleiden and Merritt for damages. The state doesn’t need to threaten the pair with prison time,” the Times’ board wrote.
It appears that, to their credit, the Times has legs to stand on vis-a-vis this issue. That said, Villanueva eventually responded to the current backlash by slightly backing off.
“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,” he tweeted late Tuesday.
But, he continued, the overall investigation is still on.
Look:
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. pic.twitter.com/4N7Y8TToxt
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) April 27, 2022
We will conduct a thorough investigation regarding the unlawful disclosure of evidence and documentation in an active criminal case. The multiple active investigations stemming from this incident will be shared and monitored by an outside law enforcement entity.
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) April 27, 2022
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.
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) April 27, 2022
The tweets have since been ratioed.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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