California Attorney General Closes Metro Contract Probe Against Former Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Citing Insufficient Evidence

California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office has concluded its criminal investigation into former Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and alleged questionable Metro contracts, announcing insufficient evidence to pursue charges. The probe, initially launched by former L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, focused on contracts awarded to Peace Over Violence, a nonprofit led by Kuehl's close friend Patricia Giggans. The decision marks the end of a contentious inquiry that saw the state's top prosecutor take control from the Sheriff's Department in 2022.

The investigation began with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) examining approximately $800,000 in contracts given by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to Peace Over Violence. These contracts were for operating a sexual harassment hotline for public transit riders. Sheriff Villanueva's office alleged that Kuehl was improperly involved in securing these contracts for Giggans' organization.

The inquiry escalated dramatically in September 2022, when sheriff's deputies executed search warrants at the homes of Kuehl and Giggans, as well as Metro headquarters and other county offices. The raids, described by some as "Third World tactics," drew significant public and legal scrutiny, with Kuehl and Giggans denying any wrongdoing and alleging political retaliation by Sheriff Villanueva.

Shortly after the high-profile searches, Attorney General Rob Bonta intervened, ordering the LASD to cease its investigative activities and transfer all evidence to the state Department of Justice. Bonta stated that taking over the investigation was "in the public interest," particularly given the contentious relationship between Sheriff Villanueva and the county's Board of Supervisors, including Kuehl. Villanueva had also asked Bonta to investigate claims that Kuehl and Giggans were tipped off about the impending searches.

Ultimately, Bonta's office found no sufficient evidence to support criminal charges against Kuehl or Giggans related to the sole-source Metro contract, campaign donations, or any purported advance warnings about the search warrants. "We knew there was no evidence and we were just waiting for him to catch up," Kuehl said following the announcement. The closure of the investigation brings an end to a politically charged episode that highlighted deep animosity between the former sheriff and county leadership.