U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra's mayoral campaign not only produced a scandalous telephone ad in the Los Angeles mayoral race but later erased the message after it had prompted an investigation, Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley said Wednesday.
Although the actions did not constitute a crime, the district attorney's report could spell political trouble for both Becerra and Los Angeles Councilman Nick Pacheco, a Becerra supporter connected to the telephone bank that issued the calls.
In the prerecorded telephone calls made days before the April 10 election, a woman posing as county Supervisor Gloria Molina attacked former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa and his record on crime.
Although Becerra said he had no involvement in the calls, Molina said Wednesday that she felt "personally abused and personally hurt by Xavier Becerra and his campaign."
Molina told reporters that the congressman could not hide behind his aides and that, even if he did not personally authorize them, had to accept responsibility for the calls.
Molina's strong statements could hurt Becerra, who has benefited from her support and enjoyed a squeaky-clean image.
"There's no way to see this in a positive light," said Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Assn. of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and a longtime friend of Becerra. "I can't imagine him knowing. On the other hand, he is the candidate and he is ultimately responsible for the actions of his campaign."
Late Wednesday, Becerra said he had offered an apology to Molina and Villaraigosa. In a two-page statement issued from his attorney's office, the congressman said his campaign staff had long denied involvement in the calls.
Becerra said he had told his staff not to engage in negative campaigning. "I can't express how disappointing and frustrating it is to now learn that those instructions and responsibilities may have been ignored in this case," he said.
Pacheco, a rising force at City Hall, also found himself entangled in the scandal. The nonprofit organization that he co-founded, Cal Inc., leased its telephone bank to La Colectiva, which made the controversial calls. And one of his top aides was a pivotal figure in the inquiry.
The calls targeted rival mayoral candidate Villaraigosa just days before the April election, in which he finished first out of six major candidates. He is now in a runoff with City Atty. James K. Hahn; Becerra finished fifth with 6% of the vote.
