Wagner Defends Fellow City Council Members

Malibu city councilman Jefferson Wagner spoke out for the first time last night … on the felony investigation brought by the L-A County District Attorney.

Wagner spoke both through his lawyer and from the podium at the city council meeting.

Wagner’s attorney … Gary Smith … made the first public comment on behalf of the councilman.

NEWSCART 77600 WAG ATTY :21

“At this time I don’t believe he has done anything that would merit the filing of charges,

but I can tell you that Mr. Wagner has been, and remains, cooperative with the investigation.

“Mr. Wagner is deeply appreciative of the outpouring of support of all kinds, from the community where he’s been an iconic figure for decades.”

More than a dozen Malibu residents spoke at the city council meeting last night.

At least one segment of the community .. outraged at the D-A’s apparent investigation into a possible fraud by the city councilman: for maintaining a legal domicile outside the city limits.

Here’s Deborah Frankel.

NEWSCART 77598 WAG FRANKEL :05  QQQ HAPPENING IN MALIBU

“This is seriously uncool and not what should be happening in Malibu.”

Others …. alleging sinister conspiracies. 

Linda Vallejo.

NEWSCART 77596 WAG  VALLEJO :05 QQQQ: ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA

“Word on the street, actually more than word on the street, is that you all folded like paper clips, after receiving a phone call from Antonio Villaraigosa.”

Vallejo went on to say there is an obvious conspiracy … because Antonio Villaraigosa’s sister is a judge. 

Just how a former mayor of Los Angeles has some sort of sinister voodoo power over the Malibu city council … has nowhere been not explained …

But the other city council members took the time last night to say no such call had ever been placed by Villaraigosa or any other boogeyman.

Councilman Skylar Peake … shooting down the central part of the great local conspiracy.

NEWSCART 77594 WAG SKYLAR 111 QQQ AN UTTERLY FALSE.

“Anything mentioned about that would be false, and utterly false.”

Also last night … concern over the paramilitary force used in the raid.

More than 22 district attorney investigators … wearing flak jackets … striking three places at once…

Former mayor Walt Keller asked for specific action from the city council.

NEWSCART 77597  WAG KELLER :  QQQQ : BEHAVIOR OF THE WHOLE THING.

“I’m asking you all to unanimously send a letter to the DA office reciting what has happened to a resident of our community, and asking her to investigate the behavior of the whole thing.”

And here … the planning commissioner appointed by Wagner … John Mazza.

NEWSCART 77595 WAG MAZZA QQQ OVERKILL WITH COPS

“I’m not going to comment at all on Jefferson’s situation … other than the fact that … it isn’t right anywhere … especially Malibu but South Central, Harlem … wherever .. to roust people and roust their house and overkill with cops.”

The other four city council members then spoke …

Here’s councilman Lou La Monte:

NEWSCART 77593 WAG LOU QQQ: ON AN ONGOING INVESTIGATIUON.

“I don’t know anything about what happened before and not comment on an ongoing investigation.”

Councilwoman Laura Rosenthal.

NEWSCART 77592 WAG LAURA QQQ:WE HAVE MORE FACTS

“I think t”m going to agree with Lou and not speak of it until we have more facts.”

Malibu’s mayor used his ‘no comment’ comment to slam journalists. 

Rick Mullen.

NEWSCART 77591 WAG MULLEN  QQQ : 21 REPRESENT WHAT YOU SAY.

“I’m a trained journalist, I used to be a journalist, I have a journalism degree.

“And I know the effective casualty radius of journalists,

“So when I get a phone call asking for me for a statement, about this, whenever you hear about it in the paper, I don’t go there, and I know enough to stay away from those wonderful professionals who do not always represent what you say.”

Rick Mullen … creating his own fake news narrative.

He then went on to say he had privately phoned Wagner to express support.

Then … Jefferson Wagner spoke …and we’ll let this tape play.

NEWSCART 77590 WAG WAG :70 QQQQ: [[[ APPLAUSE FADE OUT AT 68 ]]]

“Thank you council members for your support and good words.

“I just hope that in the community that we can reach out and take out time and review facts, and base most of our decisions and comments on the facts that are given to us by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.

“That’s probably the prudent way to.

“I’m glad that the attorney that I hired with the Go Fund Me has left the room, because I don’t have to pay him from this point on, for the rest of the evening.”

[[[ SCATTERED LAUGHTER ]]]

“Moving on to business.

“Thank you for all your support and your warm words.

“Last comment on that:

“Let’s try and focus on facts and remember that although this council doesn’t work together perfectly all the time, there is not a council member that does not have their heart into this city and whatever faction or whatever direction that they take most of their interests…”

“I respect all the work that Lou and Laura… and Rick and Skylar … have done.

“And I would hope that you would respect their work in the actual areas that they concentrate most of their time on.

“So … thank you”

[[[APPLAUSE FADE OUT]]]

City council man Jefferson Wagner at last night’s city council meeting.

It’s important to note that Wagner did not speak as to his own legal situation … but instead stuck up for his four fellow city council members … who have been slimed by accusations of nefarious conspiracies.. which has not backed up with facts.

What’s next??

That is up to the District Attorney.