Newly released video shows Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon’s top aide, Joseph Iniguez, being arrested after interrupting police who pulled over his then-fiance during a traffic stop on their way home from a wedding in 2021. Iniguez, who was Gascon’s chief of staff at the time, is seen in the video telling officers that they have pulled over the wrong person and asserting that the traffic stop was not justified. Despite this incident, Iniguez has since been promoted to chief deputy district attorney.
In the video, Iniguez can be heard urging officers to check his license plates to reveal that he worked for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He also repeatedly tells his fiance not to speak with the officers during the encounter. Iniguez is eventually arrested by the officers after his fiance is handcuffed. The officer tells Iniguez that he is being placed under arrest for being intoxicated in public, and he is handcuffed as well. The encounter escalates due to Iniguez’s behavior during the traffic stop.
Another top Gascon aide, Diana Teran, is facing an 11-count felony indictment for allegations that she improperly accessed Brady material against Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies. Teran is accused of accessing a sheriff’s office database about its deputies and using that information at the district attorney’s office to work for Gascon, who was elected on an anti-police platform. The allegations against both Iniguez and Teran have led to a lawsuit by the Association of Deputy District Attorneys.
California law prohibits prosecutors from assisting in the defense of any suspected criminals during their incumbency. Iniguez’s actions during the traffic stop, as well as Teran’s alleged misconduct, raise concerns about ethical standards within the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Gascon, who has faced criticism for his progressive policies, including directives that have been challenged in court, now has two top aides who are facing legal issues related to their conduct while working for the DA’s office.
Gascon’s office has not responded to requests for comment regarding the incidents involving Iniguez and Teran. The Association of Deputy District Attorneys’ lawsuit alleges that both aides ordered subordinates to break the law, further highlighting the ethical concerns within the office. The outcome of the legal proceedings against Iniguez and Teran will likely have implications for Gascon’s tenure as district attorney and could impact public perception of his leadership and the policies implemented within his office. The ongoing legal challenges facing Gascon’s top aides raise questions about the integrity of the criminal justice system in Los Angeles and the importance of upholding ethical standards within the prosecutor’s office.
