Ex-LA City Councilman Mitchell Englander arrested by FBI agents

Ex-LA City Councilman Mitchell Englander arrested by FBI agents

by Olga Grigoryants

Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander surrendered to FBI agents this morning to face criminal charges that he obstructed an investigation into accusations that he accepting cash, female escort services, hotel rooms and expensive meals from a businessman during trips to Las Vegas and Palm Springs, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Englander, who represented communities in the Northwestern San Fernando Valley, is also accused of later lied to the FBI about his conduct, according to a DOJ media release.

Mitchell Englander, 49, was taken into custody after being named in a seven-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on January 16. Englander is expected to be arraigned this afternoon at 2:00 in the Roybal Federal Building and Courthouse, officials said.

The indictment charges Englander with one count of participating in a scheme to falsify material facts, three counts of making false statements, and three counts of witness tampering.

Englander represented Los Angeles Council District 12 at City Hall from July 2011 until he stepped down in December of 2018 to work for a sports and entertainment company.

His former aide, John Lee, was chosen to fill out the remainder of his term. Lee currently leads the balloting from the March 3 primary election to fill the position.

This story is developing; updates to follow.

All credit goes to Olga Grigoryants Originally published on https://www.dailynews.com