Things are not looking up for embattled Los Angeles city councilman Kevin de Leόn. Two months after refusing to resign from the council after audio was leaked where he was heard participating in a racist conversation with colleagues, de Leόn is being investigated for getting into a physical altercation Friday night (December 9).
The fight, which was caught on video, took place at a Christmas toy giveaway in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. The video begins with de León being confronted by a group of activists while he was leaving the event. Some of the activists called him a racist and demanded he resigns. From the video, one activist, Jason Reedy, is seen recording de León with his phone before getting in his face. Seconds later, de León grabs Reedy by the jacket and pushes him onto a nearby table.
In an official statement from de León the following day, the councilman said he was “physically assaulted” when “Reedy launched a pelvic thrust, followed by a headbutt” to his forehead. De León also said that during the altercation, one of his staff members was hit and a volunteer was injured.
According to ABC News, de León filed a battery complaint against Reedy, who then countered de León with his own battery complaint against him. The Los Angeles Police Department said the incident is currently under investigation.
“Kevin de León is a disgrace,” Reedy’s lawyer said in a statement. “Video footage clearly shows him and his supporters initiating this assault while Mr. Reedy stands with his hands up. Not only has Kevin de León lost all political legitimacy, his claims that he was the one attacked here simply underscores how he’s lost touch with reality.”
Earlier on Friday, during his first appearance at a city council meeting since his scandal broke in October, fellow council members stood up and walked out in protest, including Mike Bonin, whose young, Black son was at the center of the racist conversation de León participated in.
“Vile racist Kevin de León just showed up for council,” Bonin tweeted. “I walked out, as did [L.A. councilmembers Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Nithya Raman]. He needs to resign.”