This week, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was invited (perhaps soon to be subpoenaed) to testify at a congressional hearing during which attempts would be made to uncover what happened to about $1 billion in federal funding that was funneled through the L.A. Homeless Services Authority.
Bass wasn't nearly as concerned about the potential fraud, but her excuses for not attending the hearing were "scheduling conflict" and that the real waste is the cost of the investigation.
We'll do these next two related stories "shot and chaser" style, but we must note with the utmost sarcasm that the two things discussed are probably not related in any way at all.
The shot, from about one week ago:
Mayor Karen Bass will formally step down Thursday as a member of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Commission, the governing board overseeing the agency's budgetary, funding, planning and program policy decisions.
The Mayor's Office said in a statement Tuesday that Bass will be appointing a new appointee to fill her spot. In an interview last week, Bass told KFI's Gary and Shannon she would be leaving the LAHSA Commission due to scheduling conflicts and other time constraints.
"The mayor's first-hand experience at LAHSA reinforced her understanding that our current system is broken and in need of major overhaul, which is why she is developing a transition plan to build a city-led homelessness response system committed to delivering results for the city of Los Angeles," according to a statement from the Mayor's Office.
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Fast forward just a few days...
🚨 HOLY SMOKES. Trump HUD Sec. Scott Turner just walked out and announced that Los Angeles homeless organization LAHSA had $75 MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS funneled through the group as part of a fraud scheme
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 16, 2026
That is almost the same amount of funding the federal government gave… pic.twitter.com/6rbhe2ZYw4
But all that funding was used for legitimate purposes, right?
Well, apparently not:
This morning, the Trump Administration arrested LA fraudsters who stole $14 million from our most vulnerable and YOU — the American taxpayer.
— Scott Turner (@SecretaryTurner) September 16, 2026
Fraudsters have been warned: steal from American taxpayers, face the consequences.
Today, we made good on that promise. pic.twitter.com/rN2RahlIH3
Private jets.
— Scott Turner (@SecretaryTurner) September 16, 2026
Range Rovers.
Opening nightclubs.
Even paying bail for domestic violence.
All on the taxpayer’s dime.
Our message to Alexander Soofer, Lakiya Malone, Michael Young, Donye Mitchell, and the homeless industrial complex: NO MORE. pic.twitter.com/PtsXSyOjMl
This is all just what we know about. Just imagine how badly taxpayers have been ripped off by fraudsters and the politicians who enable them on a national level.
Karen Bass suddenly stepped down from LAHSA a few days ago. Today, HUD Secretary Turner just revealed that $75M of fraud was laundered through LAHSA.
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) September 16, 2026
Probably nothing! pic.twitter.com/u3TfwvVfpl https://t.co/13SsIa94XT
"Probably nothing" indeed!
Karen Bass: pic.twitter.com/lmb4BAfsxr
— Dissident Teacher (@educatedandfree) September 16, 2026
The politicians who either allow this to happen or even take part in it need to go to jail. Just not running for reelection isn't enough punishment (looking at you, Tim Walz).
*****