The 11-count felony case alleging anti-police misconduct from Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon’s top ethics officer stemmed from the drunken arrest of one of his most trusted confidants, who recorded himself clashing with officers and interrupting their investigation, according to court documents. California Attorney General Robert Bonta announced the charges against Diana Teran, the top ethics officer, in April. The case against her grew out of the investigation into the December 2021 arrest of Joseph Iniguez, Gascon’s chief of staff at the time. Iniguez, who has since been promoted to chief deputy district attorney, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after a traffic stop where he refused to comply with officers. He was later released without being charged with a crime.
In the video of the arrest obtained by Fox News Digital, Iniguez is seen arguing with officers and attempting to influence their investigation by reminding them that he works for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He repeatedly interrupts the officers and urges his fiance not to speak with them, potentially violating DA policy and state law. Iniguez filed a federal civil rights violation lawsuit against Azusa over his arrest and received a $10,000 settlement last year. Critics dubbed the settlement as a “nuisance payment.” The Azusa Police Department has stated that they fully complied with state law and internal policies during Iniguez’s arrest.
Investigators looking into Iniguez’s alleged threat against the arresting officer found evidence against Diana Teran, the special advisor with responsibility for the Brady and ORWITS databases in the DA’s office. Teran, a former employee of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, is accused of using confidential files and internal documents from her previous role to add peace officer names to the DA’s Brady and ORWITS databases without proper authorization. The charges against Teran include nearly a dozen felonies, and her defense attorney believes she will beat the state’s charges. Iniguez has not been charged or accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the case against Teran.
California Attorney General Robert Bonta emphasized that no one is above the law and pledged to hold public officials accountable for their actions. Gascon, the LA County District Attorney, previously defended his Brady policy, which requires providing defense attorneys with potentially exculpatory evidence, including law enforcement’s prior misconduct. While Gascon said he stands by his office’s protocol, he deferred questions about the Iniguez incident to his private attorney. In recent weeks, Gascon faced criticism for attempting to remove two lead prosecutors from a child murder trial due to an apparent conflict of interest involving Teran. However, he later backtracked and allowed them to remain on the case after it was transferred to a unit unrelated to Teran.
The case involving Gascon’s top ethics officer Teran sheds light on allegations of anti-police misconduct within the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. While Gascon has defended his office’s policies and protocols, the charges against Teran suggest a breach of trust and misuse of confidential information from her former role at the sheriff’s department. Iniguez’s arrest and subsequent interactions with police have also raised questions about ethics and behavior within Gascon’s inner circle. As the legal proceedings unfold, the public will be closely watching to see how Gascon and his office address the allegations of misconduct and ensure accountability and integrity in their operations.
