A report investigating allegations of corruption in Malibu has determined the accusations are false and that the credibility of the source is questionable.
Former Malibu Councilman Jefferson Wagner filed an affidavit in December of 2020 alleging multiple instances of wrongdoing by officials and staff within the city. The council hired an outside law firm to investigate and made their findings public this week.
“To the extent that the Affidavit purports to reveal corrupt acts (such as an offer to pay or the payment of bribes, or providing services or official functions or actions based on favors or illegal inducements), the allegations are incorrect, untruthful and/or not substantiated by the information obtained by the undersigned counsel,” said the report prepared by special council Evan A. Jenness and George B. Newhouse, Jr.
The attorneys interviewed 28 witnesses, reviewed written materials, litigated a motion to unseal materials related to certain allegations in the affidavit, reviewed publicly available records and media pertaining to select matters, and analyzed potentially applicable laws, regulations and other authorities.
Wagner alleged that a contractor had attempted to bribe him over a City Hall construction contract, that the City government acted improperly in the construction of a crosswalk adjacent to the Malibu Beach Inn, abuse of governmental authority regarding renewal of the former City Manager’s contract, retaliatory actions against him over his actions...
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