Suspended Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas was convicted today, March 30, of federal bribery and conspiracy charges, along with mail and wire fraud, stemming from his time serving on the county Board of Supervisors and accommodations provided to his son by a then-USC dean.
Uniting to give spiritual support to the Honorable Mark Ridley-Thomas, the South Los Angeles Clergy for Public Accountability will host a worship service for the Councilmember and his family.
It has been a busy 72 hours in the City of Los Angeles and particularly in Los Angeles’ 10th Council District.
Herb Wesson’s appointment as the interim councilmember for the 10th Council District was halted today by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mary Strobel, who issued a temporary restraining order today blocking the action.
Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas said, “I have no intention of resigning my seat on the City Council or neglecting my duties.” Fellow Councilmembers plan to vote on his suspension.
“I am humbled by the support of my colleagues who did not rush to judgment and disappointed in those who did. 11 members of this Council have stripped the constituents of the 10th District of their representation, of their voice and of their right to the services that they deserve. “
On the day Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley- Thomas is scheduled to be arraigned on federal bribery and conspiracy charges, his council colleagues will vote tomorrow on whether to immediately suspend him from office.
As part of the bribery scheme, Ridley-Thomas and Flynn allegedly took steps “to disguise, conceal, and cover up the bribes, kickbacks, and other benefits defendant Ridley-Thomas and MRT Relative 1 received,” which included concealing the official acts Ridley-Thomas agreed to perform and did perform in exchange for the financial benefits. The pair also concealed, according to the indictment, the true purpose of the money funneled to MRT Relative 1’s nonprofit through the university, which also violated multiple university policies regarding the funding of nonprofits.
Says he will focus on addressing homelessness and says, “I would love to see Congresswoman Karen Bass enter Mayor’s race”