Leaked files, 'nuclear verdicts,' bruising attacks: Inside the L.A. city attorney race

The Los Angeles city attorney prosecutes most misdemeanor crimes, defends the city in lawsuits, and serves as the public’s chief lawyer amid frequent federal hostility. Hydee Feldstein Soto’s first term included increased costly litigation and allegations of misconduct and mistreatment of employees, which she denied. The race intensified after a data breach leaked a large trove of LAPD records online. The police union withdrew its endorsement and directed members to support John McKinney, a county prosecutor backed by substantial corporate funding. Marissa Roy, a deputy attorney general, positions her campaign as a “public interest law firm” focused on wage theft, renter harassment, care-first homelessness policy, and legal resistance to the Trump administration.

"The office prosecutes most misdemeanor crimes, defends the city against costly lawsuits and serves as the public's chief lawyer at a time when L.A. faces frequent attacks from a hostile White House. Races for the office tend to be sleepy affairs, but this year's contest has featured last-minute entrants, a whopping influx of cash and defections among the incumbent's key supporters."

"City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto's first term was marked by an explosion in costly litigation against the city and allegations of misconduct and mistreatment of employees. She has denied wrongdoing and defended her record, but now two well-funded opponents are flanking her from different sides of the political spectrum."

"The race began to heat up last month after a data breach that saw a massive trove of LAPD records leaked onto the internet. That spurred the city's police union to withdraw its endorsement of Feldstein Soto and tell its members to vote instead for John McKinney, a Los Angeles County prosecutor who has received a massive influx of corporate cash to support his campaign in recent weeks."

"Roy, 34, has said she would run the office as a sprawling "public interest law firm" that sues to fight wage theft and renter harassment, champions a care-first approach to homelessness and stands as a legal bulwark against the Trump administration. Roy Behr, a veteran political consultant in the city, said Roy and McKinney have clear brands and target audiences, whereas Feldstein Soto may now be a candidate without a constituency."

Read at Los Angeles Times