Karen Bass refuses sworn deposition in former fire chief defamation lawsuit

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is refusing to answer questions under oath about her handling of the deadly Palisades Fire, the New York Post reported. Mia Munro, an attorney for former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, wants to question Bass regarding allegedly false claims made during a May mayoral debate. Bass ousted Crowley after the wildfire occurred. [1]

Crowley filed a defamation lawsuit against Bass in June. A source close to the case told the New York Post that Crowley wants to determine what Bass knew, when she knew it, and why she repeated the claims during the debate. Through her attorney Ian Van Dusen, Bass has declined to sit for a deposition. [1]

The Palisades Fire started in the Santa Monica Mountains on January 7, 2025, and destroyed large areas of Pacific Palisades, Topanga, and Malibu before being contained on January 31. Driven by powerful Santa Ana winds, the fire burned 37 square miles, killed 12 people, and destroyed 6,837 structures. [3]

Bass has served as the 43rd mayor of Los Angeles since 2022. She previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2022 and in the California State Assembly from 2004 to 2010. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Bass is currently running for re-election against Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman. [2][6]