$100K Scholarship Could Become Issue in Mayoral Race
A scholarship worthy of just about $100,000 could develop into an challenge in the Los Angeles mayoral race, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The scholarship was awarded by the University of Southern California to Consultant Karen Bass for a grasp's diploma in social perform. Bass, a Democrat, is the beloved in the mayoral race.
The similar scholarship was awarded to previous L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and the former dean of USC’s social do the job system, Marilyn Flynn, who were indicted on bribery and fraud expenses.
Federal prosecutors have built no indicator that Bass is under a criminal investigation. But prosecutors have now claimed that Bass’s scholarship and her dealings with USC are “critical” to their bribery circumstance.
By awarding the scholarship to Bass in 2011, Flynn desired to get hold of the congresswoman’s support in passing legislation, prosecutors wrote in a latest court docket filing. Bass later sponsored a invoice in Congress that would have expanded USC’s and other non-public universities’ obtain to federal funding for social work—“just as defendant Flynn preferred,” the submitting states.
Bass denied wrongdoing. “Everybody appreciates that the welfare of youngsters and households has been a enthusiasm and plan target of mine for many years,” she reported. “The only motive I analyzed evenings and weekends for a master’s diploma was to develop into a much better advocate for children and families—period.”
