The union representing Los Angeles prosecutors has filed a lawsuit against District Attorney George Gascon for allegedly withholding information regarding a close ally, Diana Teran. Teran, a top Gascon aide, is facing felony charges, and prosecutors sought her emails and information about her status on the county payroll after her indictment. The lawsuit aims to compel Gascon’s office to disclose the requested records, declare Gascon in violation of the California Public Records Act (CPRA), and cover the ADDA’s attorney fees for the lawsuit and the denied requests.
Gascon and county lawyers may be attempting to delay the release of damaging information until after Election Day, as Teran is a high-ranking deputy DA and close ally of Gascon, who faces a tough challenger in November. The California Attorney General announced a felony indictment against Teran in April for allegedly stealing computer files with information on Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies. The ADDA vice president criticized Gascon for consistently violating the law by unlawfully delaying and obstructing the public records process.
Gascon’s office has previously denied public records requests seeking information about expenses related to defending the DA from previous lawsuits filed by the ADDA. Several deputy district attorneys are separately suing Gascon, with one alleging whistleblower retaliation. Gascon’s refusal to comply with public records requests has led to legal action, as California’s public records law lacks a built-in process for appealing denials to a higher authority. Gascon is facing more than 20 lawsuits from individual prosecutors and four from their union.
Gascon has been criticized for his handling of public records requests, with opponents accusing him of believing he is above the law. Gascon’s office has a policy against commenting on pending litigation. The ADDA president expressed frustration at having to resort to legal action to obtain public documents that should be readily available. Gascon’s election challenger highlighted the numerous court battles the DA faces from his own office and criticized him for prioritizing his own interests and extreme political ideology over standing up for crime victims.
The ongoing legal battles surrounding Gascon highlight the tension between the DA and his prosecutors, as well as concerns about transparency and accountability in his office. Gascon’s handling of public records requests and alleged violations of the CPRA have drawn criticism and legal challenges. As Gascon faces re-election and continued scrutiny from his opponents and the ADDA, the outcome of these lawsuits could have significant implications for his tenure as District Attorney and the future of his office.
