Prosecutors tried to make wife of councilman testify to grand jury

L.A. Councilmember Curren Price is accused of voting in favor of measures that would financially help his wife, a real estate consultant.

- BY JAMES QUEALLY

L.A. Councilmember Curren Price denies all wrongdoing in response to charges.

Los Angeles County prosecutors tried to force City Councilmember Curren Price's wife to testify before a grand jury and served subpoenas on several members of his City Hall staff earlier this year, three sources told The Times.

The grand jury was convened in March, according to three sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because grand jury proceedings are secret under California law. Price’s attorney, Michael Schafler, also confirmed the existence of a grand jury proceeding in a new court filing on Thursday.

The convening of a grand jury, coupled with news that prosecutors filed additional charges against Price earlier this week, marks a significant uptick in the district attorney’s office’s focus on the veteran council member. Price was first charged in 2023 after voting in favor of multiple measures that prosecutors allege would financially benefit his wife, real estate consultant Del Richardson.

Documents made public Thursday also show the district attorney's office considered Richardson a "suspect" in the criminal investigation into her husband as recently as 2022.

The councilman has denied all wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.

Richardson ultimately did not testify before the grand jury, though it was not clear why, according to two of the sources. No criminal charges were filed against Richardson. The district attorney's office did not immediately respond to questions about that decision Thursday.