Former LAFD chief sues Bass, says mayor should pay out of pocket for campaign remarks
Key takeaways
- Bass “sought to avoid accountability by shifting blame and lying — including by falsely claiming that she was not aware of the nationally anticipated weather event,” the suit says.
- According to Crowley’s attorneys Genie Harrison and Mia Munro, the mayor knowingly made false statements in her personal capacity and as an election candidate, which they say are not protected by government immunity.
- Crowley’s lawsuit points to a televised debate on May 6 in which she claims Bass blamed her for inoperable fire engines, which the former chief says were not repaired due to insufficient funding for mechanics.
Kristin Crowley, former Los Angeles Fire Department chief, has filed suit against Mayor Karen Bass, claiming defamation. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) By Richard Winton Staff Writer Follow June 23, 2026 4:04 PM PT 3 5 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley is suing Mayor Karen Bass personally, alleging that, while campaigning for reelection, Bass defamed her, damaging Crowley’s reputation by blaming her for the catastrophic Palisades fire response.
Crowley sued the city in February, alleging Bass “orchestrated a campaign of retaliation” and removed Crowley as fire chief to shift blame amid mounting criticism of the mayor’s decision to attend a ceremony in Ghana on Jan. 7 even as the deadly Palisades fire was spreading in extreme red-flag fire conditions.