Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass addressed the complexities and potential of hosting the 2028 Olympics amid various challenges. In a serious development, former Deputy Mayor Brian K. Williams, 61, agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge for falsely reporting a bomb threat at City Hall. Federal prosecutors from the Central District of California announced the charge on May 22, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The bomb threat occurred in October 2024 while Williams was still in office as deputy mayor for public safety. Following the threat, the FBI executed a search warrant at his home in December 2024, during which it was determined that Williams was implicated as the possible source of the threat. Mayor Bass’s office confirmed Williams was placed on administrative leave immediately after the search.
Prosecutors outlined that during a virtual meeting, Williams used a voice application to make a call to his city-issued phone and subsequently reported to police that he had received a bomb threat. He claimed an unknown male caller spoke against the city’s support of Israel and threatened to bomb City Hall. However, investigations revealed no such call existed; evidence indicated that Williams had called himself using a Google Voice application to fabricate the threat.
Assistant FBI Director Akil Davis emphasized the betrayal of trust by Williams, stating that government officials must uphold a higher standard of accountability. Williams is set to make an initial court appearance in Los Angeles soon. Prior to his role as deputy mayor, he held various positions within local government, including a tenure under former Mayor James Hahn.
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