LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today voted to have its counsel and other officials report on options for removing or impeaching the county sheriff. The report, due on January 5, is to look into possible changes to the county charter or code as well as legislation. The call for the report, sponsored by supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Mark Ridley-Thomas, passed by vote of three to two.
Please attribute the following statement to Andres Kwon, policy counsel and senior organizer at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California:
“Sheriff Villanueva represents a clear and present danger to civil liberties. Today’s motion by the board is a step forward in validating the community’s call for Villanueva’s resignation and a charter amendment that would endow the board with the power to impeach and remove a sheriff for violating public trust.”