St. John Asked by Bradley to Testify
Bowing to a request from Los Angeles City Council President John Ferraro, Mayor Tom Bradley said Wednesday he has asked Juanita St. John to cooperate with a council committee investigating the African trade task force she heads.
Ferraro made the request Tuesday, shortly before a frustrated City Council voted to subpoena St. John to answer questions about $180,000 of the group’s money that auditors say is missing. Ferraro suggested that because Bradley and St. John were business partners and friends, Bradley might be able to persuade her to testify without a subpoena.
St. John’s attorneys have said that if subpoenaed, she will invoke her Fifth Amendment right and refuse to answer questions.
Bradley said Wednesday that he made the request in a letter in care of St. John’s attorneys. Bradley said he considered it inappropriate to contact St. John personally because she is represented by lawyers in the matter.
The two-paragraph letter says, in part, “Dear Juanita: As you know, I have consistently urged all parties to cooperate with the current inquiry. . . . I am reiterating my plea that all parties cooperate with the Task Force Inquiry.”
Vicki Podberesky, one of St. John’s attorneys, said St. John will have no comment on the matter until a criminal investigation is concluded.
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