Reiner Halts Investigation of Nathanson
Los Angeles Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner has halted his criminal investigation into whether former California Coastal Commissioner Mark L. Nathanson violated state conflict-of-interest laws, Reiner’s office said Tuesday.
The decision was prompted by a request from U.S. Atty. George L. O’Connell, who is prosecuting Nathanson on unrelated charges of federal political corruption.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Gail Ehrlich, who headed the six-month county inquiry, said that initially she believed her office could carry out a separate investigation without interfering with the Sacramento-based prosecution.
“When we started, we thought we could carve out an area that would not create an overlap,” Ehrlich said. But the two cases, though distinct, shared so many witnesses that “we would have the potential for creating problems” for the federal prosecutors, she said.
Nathanson pleaded not guilty last month in federal court to eight felony counts.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
