Former Anaheim Mayor to Admit Guilt in Stadium Sale Corruption Case, City Weighs Reform Choices.

Former⁢ Anaheim Mayor Harry ‌Sidhu‍ Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges

Former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges related to the now-defunct Angel Stadium sale. This decision comes just⁢ a day after the Southern California city council announced plans to⁤ reform the way⁤ the city conducts business in response ⁤to a recent corruption investigation.

The charges against Sidhu include obstruction of ‌justice, wire fraud, and lying to federal investigators. These charges stem from his actions during the city’s efforts⁣ to sell the stadium in 2020, according to court documents filed ‌on‌ August 16.

“While‍ serving as Anaheim’s mayor, Mr. Sidhu took a series of actions that compromised⁣ the ⁤city’s negotiating position by providing confidential information and secretly working to influence the city’s decision-making ‍process—all of which had‌ a detrimental effect on the ⁤city and its residents,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally.

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Prosecutors allege that during ⁤the stadium⁤ sale negotiations, Sidhu provided ‌confidential information to an Angels consultant and the​ then-Anaheim Chamber of ⁣Commerce Co-President Todd Ament. They claim that Sidhu expected a ⁤$1 million‍ campaign contribution from the baseball team in exchange for the information.

Sidhu resigned last year after the Federal Bureau of Investigations released an affidavit implicating him in corruption.

At⁤ a recent city council meeting, Anaheim councilors discussed the findings of⁢ a city-commissioned report that ​detailed possible⁢ criminal conspiracy and alleged theft of COVID-19 relief funds. Mayor Ashleigh Aitken proposed various actions to address the allegations, but the council took a more cautious ⁤approach.

One proposal suggested stopping funding for Visit Anaheim, a nonprofit ​tourism agency mentioned in the report. Investigators claim that the agency received $6.5⁢ million in Anaheim COVID-19 relief funds based on Sidhu’s advice. The report also alleges that Sidhu‌ orchestrated the firing of former City Manager Chris Zapata when he spoke out⁤ against the‍ funding decision.

The report ⁢further states that Sidhu directed Visit Anaheim’s director to divert $1.5 million of⁤ the COVID funds​ to​ the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce and to cover ‍up the transaction if questioned.

During‌ the council meeting, councilors voted⁢ to study the possibility of withholding⁢ future funds from Visit Anaheim. However, Councilman ‌Jose Diaz expressed concerns about the potential impact on the city’s tourism industry.

“It’s not that I support what ⁤these people have done,”‍ said Diaz. “It might hurt the​ people that we tried to protect.⁢ I believe it is‌ going‍ to hurt the people of Anaheim.”

Mayor Aitken ‍echoed these concerns, emphasizing the importance of a functioning tourism bureau for ‍the city’s economy. She also‌ suggested exploring the return of the $1.5 million in ‍COVID funds from⁤ Visit Anaheim.

In another action, councilors unanimously ‍agreed to write a letter to the state auditor, expressing their willingness to cooperate fully with any⁢ state ⁤investigations related to the report.

Assemblyman Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim)

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