Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva Makes John Oliver’s Point For Him By Saying A Departmental Leak Is More Serious Than Deputies Kneeling On Man’s Head
deadline.comSunday on Last Week Tonight, John Oliver tore into Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who is facing an election this year amid allegations of secret deputy gangs, abuse of power and cover ups in his department — all of which Villanueva denies.
Said Oliver, “His re-election bid this year has been overshadowed by claims in the L.A. Times that he directed a cover-up of an incident where one of his deputies knelt on a detainee’s head for three minutes.
It is a damning story about abuse of power and lack of transparency, and Villanueva took swift action against those responsible…for everyone finding out about it.”Oliver is referring to a news conference Villanueva called last week to blast a variety of his opponents both political and perceived, including election challenger Eli Vera, county Inspector General Max Huntsman and Los Angeles Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian, who broke an explosive story of an altercation involving deputies’ mistreatment of a handcuffed inmate.
Villanueva alleged at the news conference that the Times piece was potentially based on information stolen from the department.
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