Former Los Angeles Councilmember Kevin de León is facing a hefty ethics fine of $18,750. This penalty stems from his involvement in city council decisions that he had a personal financial interest in and for not disclosing income he received from certain organizations.
De León has admitted to several violations, including four counts of making decisions that benefited him financially and one count of failing to report income. According to a report from the L.A. City Ethics Commission, during 2020 and 2021, he voted on three issues that favored the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and another one that benefited the University of Southern California (USC). These votes occurred less than a year after he received over $500 from each organization, which he was required by law to disclose.
Specifically, De León voted in favor of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s application for the historical designation of the King Edward Hotel in November 2020. He also supported city lease agreements for the foundation’s Retan Hotel in April and May 2021. However, he failed to report a significant amount of income—$109,231—from the foundation before taking office.
In addition to his ties with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, De León earned $155,000 as an independent contractor for USC from July 2019 to June 2020. Less than a year later, he participated in a city council decision that allocated $1 million to the USC Keck School of Medicine.
De León was elected to represent Council District 14 in March 2020. While still a council member-elect, he signed a consulting agreement with the Healthy Housing Foundation, a part of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, to provide strategic guidance. He took office in October 2020 but did not disclose this income on his financial forms, despite filing an amended version in December 2020.
The ethics commission noted that while De León cooperated with their investigation and has no prior violations, the seriousness of his actions indicates a troubling pattern of behavior. They highlighted that he organized a meeting in summer 2020 with city officials to discuss issues related to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, despite having been elected but not yet in office.
De León’s spokesperson responded to the ethics findings, stating that the issue revolves around disclosure rather than personal gain. They emphasized that the decisions made during this time were aimed at providing essential services during the pandemic and that they passed unanimously.
As the situation unfolds, De León’s future in politics remains uncertain, especially as he faces scrutiny over his financial ties and decision-making while in office.