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Los Angeles prosecutor ‘intimidated’ by putting a gun to his door, files lawsuit against DA fighting for his job
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Los Angeles prosecutor ‘intimidated’ by putting a gun to his door, files lawsuit against DA fighting for his job

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assistant district attorney Los Angeles He’s suing his boss at the last minute as he faces a tough re-election race on Tuesday.

The fight between Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon and his own office could continue to cost county taxpayers millions of dollars even if he loses.

Gascón faces nearly two dozen similar retaliation lawsuits from rank-and-file prosecutors in his office, who are soft on crime and call out victims for actions they view as unfair and potentially illegal.

Award given to Deputy District Attorney Shawn Randolph $1.5 million settlement He filed a retaliation lawsuit last year, alleging he was transferred to a lesser position after voicing concerns about Gascon policies that may have violated victims’ rights under Marsy’s Law. Another prosecutor, Richard Doyle, obtained an $800,000 settlement in his own whistleblower case.

LA PROSECUTOR SAYS BOSS GASCON SENT COPS TO HIS HOME TO INTEREST AFTER BLOWING WHISTLE ON SOFT REPORT OF CRIME

Tatiana Chahoian gives an interview to FOX 11 LA

Deputy Los Angeles District Attorney Tatiana Chahoian found herself in hot water after tipping off a memo on how to prosecute street racing and street “takeover” cases in the county during an interview with FOX 11 Los Angeles. (FOX 11 Los Angeles)

Gascon was recently deposed in another retaliation case filed by assistant prosecutor John Lewin, a real estate heir, who was the subject of “Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.” Robert Durst behind bars.

In September, the Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorneys Association sued Gascón as a whole, alleging he improperly denied or ignored public records requests.

The latest case is that of another deputy prosecutor, Tatiana Chahoian, who raised concerns about a memo urging prosecutors to downplay street racing cases after wealthy Los Angeles socialite Rebecca Grossman killed her two boys and narrowly missed attacking their mother and her third child in a crash . pedestrian crossing.

In response, Gascón allegedly sent an armed police officer to his home with a disciplinary note, blocked routine promotions, and gave him a “very intense workload” of 60 to 100 cases a day. According to her lawsuit, Chahoian felt so physically ill from the alleged retaliation that her health deteriorated, dropping to just 89 pounds and having to take multiple medical leaves of absence to recover.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon addresses the media at a press conference on developments in the case of brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez on Thursday, October 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

“To account for this demanding schedule, Chahoian had to be in so many places that he could not even use the restroom without permission,” his lawyers wrote in a civil complaint. he wrote.

After suffering a seizure on the way home from work, she received a doctor’s note stating that she should not drive for more than 15 minutes at a time. His superiors allegedly forced him to continue the 55-minute commute for a month before transferring him to another position, according to the lawsuit.

According to Chahoian’s lawsuit, John Harlan, Gascon’s chief deputy in charge of criminal evaluation, urged prosecutors in an internal memo not to pursue criminal charges against suspects accused of street racing, reckless driving and street taking that did not result in injuries.

Prosecutors were instead told to consider “making an advance application for a postponement of prosecution”; His lawyers likened it to “a stern warning with minimal liability.”

LA DA Investigator on DDA's doorstep

An investigator for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office left a letter of reprimand on the DA’s front door; The buyer said the move was intended to intimidate him after he spoke out about a controversial note. (Courtesy Tatiana Chahoian)

IN ‘WOKE’, A LAWSUIT WAS FILED BY HIS OWN OFFICE, ALLEGEDLY PROTECTING HIS ETHICS CHIEF ACCUSED OF CRIMES

The memo encouraged prosecutors to “go against the law,” according to Chahoian, who expressed his concerns in a local television interview after receiving the memo.

“That’s like saying if someone shoots at someone else, if it’s a bad shot and they miss, we won’t press charges because nothing happened,” he said. FOX 11 Los Angeles He added that the internal notification left him “in a state of shock” at the time.

To read case.

Days after the interview aired, he told Fox News Digital, an armed district attorney’s office investigator showed up on his doorstep with a disciplinary warning that would normally be emailed.

Gascón’s office also overlooked him for a promotion in retaliation for his public comments, according to the lawsuit.

“George Gascon has been lying to the people he was sworn to serve for almost four years,” Chahoian said through his legal team over the weekend. “His misguided policies led to increased violence and ‘amplified his rhetoric’criminals are victims, and the victims are a source of discomfort.”

Gascón will face independent candidate Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, on Election Day. He received endorsements from the assistant prosecutor’s union and many individual prosecutors who have sued Gascón alleging retaliation or objecting to his policies.

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“Ms. Chahoian acted in the public interest by voicing her concerns about prosecutorial policies that endangered lives; this case underscores Gascón’s courage to uphold those values ​​even in the face of attempts to intimidate and silence her,” said Anthony Fusaro, one of her attorneys. he said in a statement.

“Gascon has consistently disregarded his duty to uphold justice by putting the interests of criminals ahead of the lives and safety of Los Angeles residents — and his response to criticism demonstrates a disturbing reliance on intimidation rather than constructive engagement with his prosecutors to protect the public.” I took an oath to serve.”

A spokesman for Gascon’s office declined to discuss the case.

“Our office does not comment on pending litigation or personnel matters,” he told Fox News Digital.