Linn turning supes probe over to state attorney general
Madera County District Attorney David A. Linn announced Monday that California Attorney General Xavier Becerra will take charge of Linn’s criminal investigation of members of the Madera County Board of Supervisors. This is due to the potential conflict of interest between Linn and the supervisors.
Linn previously announced that he was conducting a criminal investigation against all members of the Board of Supervisors for unethical and illegal conduct in trading favors with developers for political contributions, entering into highly questionable contracts with county vendors, and the inappropriate spending of county funds.
The Board became aware of Linn’s investigations in early November of 2017 and, according to Linn, attempted to force him to resign his position as district attorney at a closed session Board of Supervisors meeting on Nov. 21, 2017. Linn refused, and in response, the Board, going against long established county and civil service rules, practices, and laws, conducted a special show (trial) hearing on Nov. 27, 2017, in which they refused to allow Linn to cross-examine witnesses or present a defense.
Premature and embellished reports to the media have surfaced from Madera County District Attorney David Linn about the Attorney General’s Office taking over his investigation of Members of the Madera County Board of Supervisors.
Regina Garza, the county counsel, said in a news release that Linn “continues to mischaracterize and minimize the fact that the investigation authorized by the Madera County Board of Supervisors sustained each and every allegation that he acted inappropriately in the workplace since taking office in 2015.
“The deliberately deceptive efforts of the district attorney to initiate investigations into members of the Madera County Board of Supervisors will only prove to be a smoke screen for his own misconduct that threatened the psychological and emotional well-being of the employees within his office.”
If necessary, Garza said, “the County, as well as each member of the board, will openly and willingly cooperate with the attorney general.”
Linn called the Board’s actions a clear-cut example of obstruction of justice.
Linn, who is scheduled to be in Sacramento this week to attend the California District Attorneys Association Legislative Committee meeting with members of the State Legislature, will personally deliver the requested documents to the Attorney General’s Office so that no time is wasted in this investigation.
Linn said, “I’m not saying anyone on the board of supervisors is guilty of any crime. However, I do believe that the inquisition meeting about me in late November by the supervisors in an attempt to force me to resign was in fact criminal obstruction of justice. The Board denied my due process rights and simultaneously ignored long-standing civil service rules for Madera County.“
Linn further stated, “The allegations of misconduct brought against me by one member of my staff, including my making derogatory and sexist comments, were and are untrue. The Board used this complaint from one troubled employee as retaliation toward me after the supervisors became aware that I was investigating them for improprieties.”
This action is similar to the FBI’s and U.S. Attorney’s actions in the Operation Rezone scandal in Fresno 20 years ago, Linn said.
“I do believe that this investigation by the California attorney general will fundamentally change the governmental structure of Madera County for the better,” Linn said.
