Former US attorney for Kamala Harris rips Dem LA Mayor Karen Bass: Criminal negligence

A Los Angeles resident and former US attorney for Vice President Kamala Harris said Democratic Mayor Karen Bass’ handling of the devastating wildfires that have ravaged his community borders on “criminal negligence.” Michel Valentine, who claims it took fire crews a staggering 45 minutes to drop water after the Palisades Fire first broke out last week, said there is now “no way” he could trust the embattled pol to lead the city.“I say it’s just wrong.

A lot of people are at fault,” Valentine told NewsNation.“I think Mayor Bass bears the ultimate responsibility for this failure, and I think she should be held accountable.There’s no way that that I could trust her again as my mayor in light of this tragedy, there’s, no way.”The former attorney also managed to film the moment the now-deadly blaze first started ravaging the area.Valentine and his wife started recording the fast-moving flames and “intense plume of smoke” billowing near their home in the Pacific Palisades enclave just after they called 911 at about 10:30 a.m.

last Tuesday.The harrowing footage, obtained by NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports,” shows the blaze more than doubling in size by the time a chopper appeared overhead to start dousing the flames.“It could have been confined,” Valentine said of the blaze that is still ravaging the area more than a week later.“It wouldn’t have touched any of the homes,” he continued, adding he had “no idea” what prompted the delay in response time.“You’re talking to somebody that’s been up in this community for 40 years, and I’ve seen fires.

I’ve seen fires during those 40 years, and there’s always been a good response.I don’t know what happened this time.”LA Fire Department officials have previously blamed their firefighting response, in part, on budget cuts after it emerged Bass had slashed $17.6 million in funding from the department ahead of the devastating fires.Crews fighting the Palisa...