Newspaper’s Offices Were Legally Searched

Re “The D.A.’s Press Attack,” editorial, May 4: District attorney investigators went to the Metropolitan News-Enterprise offices with a judicially authorized warrant to obtain an invoice showing that a local law firm paid for a legal notice of a recall election in South Gate. All the publishers had to do was turn over relevant business documents, which were sought as part of a broad political corruption probe.

Beginning last month, D.A.’s office staff members spoke with Metropolitan News’ co-publisher Jo-Ann Grace. They were assured of complete cooperation. Grace requested legal process before providing the business records. In this instance, the appropriate legal document was a search warrant. When the warrant was presented by two district attorney investigators, neither Jo-Ann Grace nor her husband, Roger M. Grace, editor and co-publisher, was present. Prior to and subsequently upon his arrival, Roger Grace was uncooperative and refused to comply with the court order. Investigators closed down the paper. A short time later, Jo-Ann Grace fully cooperated with investigators and turned over the requested documents. The newsroom at the Metropolitan News was not violated.

Your suggestion that the newspaper shield law might extend to cover business invoices for legal notices will have to be worked out in the courts. Our efforts to obtain evidence were focused and narrow. The district attorney’s office will continue to use all appropriate tools, including lawfully issued search warrants, in its efforts to pursue corruption in L.A. County. The public expects no less.

Steve Cooley

District Attorney

Los Angeles County