Sen. Rick Scott, Chair Ron Johnson Request Records from Mayor of LA for Congressional Investigation into Pacific Palisades Wildfire

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Rick Scott and Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), sent a letter to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass requesting records and all information related to the city's wildfire preparedness and response to the January 2025 Pacific Palisades fire. Following the Department of Justice's announcement of charges against a suspect believed to be responsible for starting the Lachman fire this week, growing concerns have been raised in public reports about the management and oversight of city officials. This includes concerns that the Palisades fire appears to have been caused by a reignition of the Lachman fire, even though Los Angeles officials stated that the fire was "fully contained."

The senators' letter is part of their ongoing congressional investigation into the deadly Palisades fire, which devastated Los Angeles communities, caused billions in property damage, and resulted in the tragic loss of life. This follows previous requests for information from including letters to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Read the letter to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass HERE or below:

Dear Mayor Bass:

In January 2025, a number of wildfires, including the Palisades fire, devastated Los Angeles County, California. These fires caused billions of dollars in damage to homes and businesses, and tragically resulted in loss of life. Public reports have raised questions about Los Angeles's wildfire preparations and the response to the January 2025 wildfires, including the Palisades fire. For example, even though a suspect was charged this week with starting the Lachman fire, the Palisades fire appears to have been caused by a reignition of the Lachman fire, even though Los Angeles officials stated that the fire was "fully contained." Additionally, a July 2025 preliminary report issued by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power ("LADWP") identified issues with critical water systems necessary for fire suppression, including loss of pressure to fire hydrants. And there have also been other allegations that the mismanagement of reservoirs led to a lack of water on the day that residents in Los Angeles County needed it most.

Pursuant to Senate Resolution 94 (119th Cong.), the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (the "Subcommittee") is conducting a review of Los Angeles's wildfire mitigation and suppression efforts, including the response to the Palisades fire. In order to assist the Subcommittee in its review, please provide the following information and records. Unless otherwise stated, the period of time covered by this request is from February 1, 2022, to present.

1. All records referring or relating to wildfire preparation, suppression, and response between December 28, 2024, and the present, including but not limited to the response to the Palisades and Lachman fires.

1. All records referring or relating to proposed budget cuts and workforce reductions at the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).

1. All records referring or relating to the Palisades and Eaton fires, including but not limited to:
2. 1. Communications between and among employees at the Los Angeles Mayor's Office;
   2. Any after action or other assessment of the cause of the Palisades and Eaton fires, including all communications related to the suspected non-natural or man-made causes;
   3. All communications referring or related to Jonathan Rinderknecht; and
   4. Communications with residents of the Pacific Palisades.

1. All records referring or relating to any reports or investigations of arson, burglary, theft, or looting in fire-affected areas, including but not limited to communications with law enforcement or emergency management agencies.

1. All records referring or relating to the Santa Ynez Reservoir and the Chautauqua Reservoir (also known as the "Palisades Reservoir"), including but not limited to all communications with the LADWP regarding the closure of the Santa Ynez Reservoir.

1. All records referring or relating to the February 21, 2025, removal of Kristin M. Crowley from her role as Fire Chief of the LAFD.

1. All records referring or relating to the creation or oversight of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring policies for the Mayor's Office, LAFD, and the LADWP from May 1, 2020, to present, including Mayor Eric Garcetti's Executive Directive No. 27 and the budgetary impact of DEI programs or initiatives.

1. All records referring or relating to your travel to the Republic of Ghana from January 4 to January 8, 2025, including but not limited to:
2. 1. All risk assessments, staff recommendations, or warnings regarding potential emergency response conflicts;
   2. All records referring or relating to identifying which city official(s) were designated to exercise mayoral or emergency management authority during the period of the Ghana trip;
   3. All communications discussing the fire response and plan in the context of your absence from Los Angeles;
   4. All communications between the Mayor's Office and external entities, including the White House, referring or relating to the trip's purpose, agenda, or scheduling;
   5. All communications relating to the U.S. military transportation back to Los Angeles; and
   6. All briefing materials, talking points, or post-trip summaries referring or relating to the Ghana travel, including any references to the trip's timing, cost, or public perception following the January 2025 wildfires.

1. All records referring or relating to redevelopment in fire-affected areas, including but not limited to:
2. 1. building or land-use permits, applications, or approvals;
   2. proposed or enacted changes to regulations;
   3. proposed or enacted zoning modifications or variances;
   4. proposals for or approvals of low-income housing developments;
   5. proposals for or approvals of multifamily housing developments; and
   6. the construction of public transportation stations.

1. All records referring or relating to the records retention, storage, and deletion policies and practices of the Mayor's Office, including but not limited to all records relating to the alleged deletion, alteration, or destruction of any official records or communications.

1. All records referring or relating to Steve Soboroff's appointment and resignation as chief recovery officer.

1. All communications referring or relating to wildfire prevention, mitigation, or suppression, including but not limited to the Palisades fire, between the Mayor's Office and any employee or official with the following entities:
2. 1. LADWP;
   2. Los Angeles City Council;
   3. Office of the Governor of California;
   4. LAFD;
   5. Los Angeles County Fire Department; and
   6. Any federal agency or department.

Please produce this information as soon as possible, but no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on October 23, 2025. If you have any questions about this request, please contact Subcommittee staff at (202) 224-3721 and (202) 224-0909. Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.

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