The recently released video footage shows the arrest of Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon’s top aide, Joseph Iniguez, after he interrupted police during a traffic stop on his then-fiance. Iniguez, who was Gascon’s chief of staff at the time, was riding shotgun when the police pulled them over for a suspected traffic violation. He has since been promoted to chief deputy district attorney and received a $10,000 settlement from Azusa after suing over the incident, alleging a federal civil rights violation.
In the video, Iniguez can be heard telling officers that they pulled over the wrong person and urging them to check his license plates to see that he works for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He also repeatedly told his fiance not to speak with the officers and explained that field sobriety tests were voluntary and not required by law. When the officer eventually arrested his fiance, Iniguez was also placed under arrest for being in public and intoxicated.
Another top aide to Gascon, Diana Teran, is facing an 11-count felony indictment for allegedly improperly accessing Brady material against Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies. Teran is accused of accessing a sheriff’s database about its deputies while working there and then taking that information to the district attorney’s office when she started working for Gascon. She is accused of using this improperly obtained data to assist in cases, according to the California Attorney General’s Office.
Under California law, prosecutors are not allowed to assist in the defense of any suspected criminals during their time in office. Iniguez was arrested after his fiance was handcuffed, and the officer informed him that he was being arrested for being in public and intoxicated. Despite being in a public role that requires impartiality and adherence to the law, the actions of Iniguez and Teran have raised concerns about their conduct and professionalism.
The Association of Deputy District Attorneys, the county prosecutors’ union, has filed a lawsuit in 2022 alleging that both Iniguez and Teran ordered their subordinates to break the law. This lawsuit raises further questions about the conduct of Gascon’s top aides and their commitment to upholding the law. Gascon’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment on these matters, leaving the situation unresolved and raising concerns about the leadership within the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The incidents involving Iniguez and Teran highlight the challenges and controversies surrounding Gascon’s administration and his approach to law enforcement in Los Angeles. Gascon was elected on an anti-police platform, and the actions of his top aides have raised questions about their commitment to upholding the law and respecting the boundaries of their roles as prosecutors. The ongoing legal battles and investigations surrounding Iniguez and Teran’s conduct have cast a shadow over Gascon’s leadership and the operations of the District Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.
