Everyone working at Palm Springs City Hall was kicked out of the building by the FBI showed shortly after 9 a.m this morning reports KESQ.
Employees were asked to drop everything and leave the building. There is no word on what the FBI is looking into.
Palm Springs City Manager David Ready entered the building at 9:30 a.m. reports The Desert Sun (what a day to show up late for work, eh?). Ready told the newspaper, “I don’t know anything. I’m going to go find out.”
Fbi, DA, IRS agents have closed palm springs city hall pic.twitter.com/QxtHUmBrml
— jay calderon (@jaymcalderon) September 1, 2015
The search warrant served is over “allegations of criminal activity,” reports KMIR.
Update 10:33 a.m.: Politicians are already trying to use the raid to promote their campaigns for mayor. What a town.
Two mayoral candidates – Bill Gunasti+Ron Oden – already showed up, talked to reporters. @MyDesert
— Kia Farhang (@KiaFarhang) September 1, 2015
Former #PalmSprings Mayor, now mayoral hopeful, Ron Oden, says he is disgusted, started crying when he saw the "raid" on City Hall.
— Samantha Cortese (@SamanthaCortese) September 1, 2015
Update 10:48 a.m.: The warrants are part of a joint effort by the Inland Empire Public Corruption Task Force reports The L.A. Times.
Update: 11:06 a.m.: Mayoral candidates have already asked the city council to resign.
Some Mayoral Candidates are now at Palm Springs City Hall asking for the city council to resign.
— KMIR News (@KMIRNews) September 1, 2015
UPDATE 11:33 a.m.: The Desert Sun reports that law enforcement officials are also at an apartment that Mayor Steve Pougnet listed as his home address.
Officers are also at Palm Springs mayor @StevePougnet home in ps pic.twitter.com/LOUrp6OkRc
— jay calderon (@jaymcalderon) September 1, 2015
UPDATE 6:02 p.m.: Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet has issued a statement:
"Palm Springs has made tremendous progress over the past eight years. We simply can’t permit this matter to sidetrack our efforts to make the future even brighter. ” – read his full statement in the article.
Posted by Cactus Hugs on Tuesday, September 1, 2015
UPDATE 8:15 a.m., Wednesday: City Hall has reopened.
A #palmsprings employee enters city hall Wednesday after workers were sent home Tuesday @MyDesert pic.twitter.com/QZsXfRKREH
— Colin Atagi (@TDSColinAtagi) September 2, 2015
For further updates and to see all stories related to #PouGhazi, click here.
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Rivco DA and the FBI continue to investigate Palm Springs City Hall. pic.twitter.com/ERUiKygKiy
— KMIR News (@KMIRNews) September 1, 2015
