Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s office has remained tight-lipped about the situation of Deputy Mayor Brian Williams, who oversees the city’s fire department. Williams has been on administrative leave since the FBI raided his home over an alleged bomb threat against City Hall made in September.
The controversy came to light just weeks before devastating wildfires swept through Los Angeles County, raising questions about the city’s leadership and emergency preparedness. Williams, who was appointed by Bass in February 2023, has significant responsibilities, including oversight of the Los Angeles Police Department, Fire Department, and emergency management.
The FBI’s search of Williams’ Pasadena residence in mid-December was part of an investigation into a bomb threat he allegedly made earlier in the year. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) initially investigated but handed the case to the FBI due to Williams’ close ties with local law enforcement.
Despite the severity of the allegations, Williams has not been arrested or charged. His attorney, Dmitry Gorin, has publicly stated that Williams “strongly maintains his innocence and intends to vigorously fight the allegations.”
Mayor Bass’s office issued a brief statement at the time of the raid, indicating that they take the matter seriously and that Williams was immediately placed on leave. However, since then, there has been no further comment from the mayor’s office regarding Williams’ status or the ongoing investigation.
This silence comes at a time when Los Angeles is grappling with the aftermath of recent wildfires, which have been among the most destructive in the city’s history, claiming lives and destroying thousands of structures. The absence of Williams from his role has sparked discussions about accountability, especially given his responsibility for public safety.
Critics have pointed to Bass’s decision to place Williams on leave, questioning her judgment, particularly in light of her absence from the city during the onset of the fires. Bass was in Africa at the time, a decision that has drawn significant criticism regarding her commitment to the city during a crisis.
The investigation into the alleged bomb threat and the mayor’s office’s response have intensified scrutiny on Bass’s administration, with many calling for transparency and accountability in how the city manages its public safety officials.
As the investigation continues, the exact impact on the city’s fire and emergency response capabilities remains a subject of speculation, with no clear updates from the mayor’s office on how they are addressing the void left by Williams’ absence.
Article generated from corporate media reports.
Trump Denies “Fake News” Report on Changes to Economic Plans
by Publius
President-elect Donald Trump has refuted a Washington Post report suggesting his aides were considering a more restrained tariff policy. The report claimed that Trump’s transition team was contemplating a tariff plan that would be less extensive than his campaign promises, targeting only imports deemed critical to national or economic security….
Gold Breaks Out With Central Bank Surge and Interest Rate Drops Expected
by Sponsored Post
Precious metals are seeing gains once again following the post-election dip, just as many economists had expected. Even China, which had been holding back for five months, returned to purchasing massive quantities of gold. “Falling U.S. interest rates and ongoing solid demand from central banks are supporting the gold price,”…
JPMorgan: “Debasement Trade” Into Bitcoin and Gold Is Here to Stay
by Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge
(Zero Hedge)—The so-called “debasement trade” into gold and Bitcoin is “here to stay” as investors brace for persistent geopolitical uncertainty, according to a Jan. 3 research note by JPMorgan shared with CoinTelegraph. Gold and BTC “appear to have become more important components of investors’ portfolios structurally” as they increasingly seek to…
Hochul to Increase Payments to a Program That Serves Illegals
by Independent Sentinel
Welfare champion Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York has proposed a huge expansion of the state’s child tax credit. People here illegally can collect. New York is a one party state and Hochul runs it like a dictator. Hochul wants taxpayers to pay for an increase in the maximum credit…
More Details Emerge Regarding the Plan to Kill a Supreme Court Justice
by Zachary Stieber, The Epoch Times
(The Epoch Times)—A California man allegedly told authorities that he flew to the East Coast to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, according to newly filed court documents. Nicholas Roske flew across the country from California to Virginia on June 7, 2022, landing just before midnight. He got into a…
Kevin O’Leary Wants to Save TikTok by Buying It and Rewriting Its Algorithm
by The Blaze
“Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary said that he was working on a deal to save the popular TikTok social media platform from being banned in the U.S. over privacy concerns. Republican lawmakers have banned TikTok from being used by state and federal employees after numerous reports that the platform collects…
AI Chatbots Credited With Surge in US Holiday Sales
by Valuetainment
AI-powered tools, particularly chatbots, significantly boosted online holiday sales in the US to $282 billion in 2024, a nearly 4% increase from the previous year, according to Salesforce. Globally, online sales reached $229 billion, up from $199 billion in 2023, as retailers utilized targeted promotions and personalized recommendations to attract…
Dana White Has Joined Meta’s Board of Directors
by Cactus Williams, Discern Report
UFC CEO and long-time friend of Donald Trump, Dana White, has joined Meta’s board of directors alongside Charlie Songhurst and John Elkann. This is just the latest in a series of decisions Meta has made following Trump’s historic electoral victory which seemed to be aimed at cozying up to the…
The Biggest Sale on Beef With 25-Year Shelf-Life EVER
by Sponsored Post
Let’s cut to the chase. Prepper All-Naturals is offering an unprecedented 40% off for its “Beef Steak” survival bags with promo code “steak40”. With a 25-year shelf life and a single ingredient (beef, of course), our most popular product is available for a very limited time with the biggest discount…
McDonald’s to Abandon Diversity ‘Goals’ in Hiring, to Stop Participating in Woke Non-Profit’s ‘Corporate Equality Index’
by The Post Millennial
Filmmaker and cultural commentator Robby Starbuck has gained another scalp in his effort to flip US corporations away from woke agendas focused on DEI, diversity, equity and inclusion. “BIG news,” Starbuck reported on X. “McDonald’s is ending a number of woke DEI policies today. Now let me tell you what’s…
