Villaraigosa To Pay $42K For Free Lakers, Dodgers Tickets
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has agreed to pay $42,000 in fines to settle state and city ethics probes into his acceptance of unreported tickets to sporting and other events.
As part of an agreement with the city Ethics Commission and state Fair Political Practices Commission, Villaraigosa admitted that he accepted and failed to report free tickets to 34 events during his first five years in office, including tickets to Los Angeles Lakers games, the Los Angeles Times reported on its website.
In a one-page statement cited by The Times, Villaraigosa said it was his "responsibility to make sure I act in strict compliance with the applicable rules."
The mayor came under fire last year for accepting tickets to various events.
Villaraigosa repeatedly defended his acceptance of the tickets, saying he attended the events to perform ceremonial duties on behalf of the city.
Under the proposed agreement, which still needs final approval, the mayor would pay $21,000 to both the FPPC and the city Ethics Commission.
KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports that when the fines of $42,000 are paid, they'll be the largest of their kind under State ethics law, but well short of the maximum penalty the mayor faced of more than $167,000.
Podcast
The money to cover the fines will come from legal defense funds the mayor has set up.
(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
