A formal complaint filed by Spencer Pratt against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has been referred to the Los Angeles Police Department for potential investigation, according to officials with the City Clerk's Office.
Josué "Josh" Marcus with the City Clerk's Office confirmed that the office has reviewed Pratt's allegation and will follow standard protocol. "After review, our practice is to refer these allegations to the Los Angeles Police Department for further investigation, which we will do for this and any new allegations," Marcus stated.
The complaint centers on whether Bass violated electioneering laws while filming campaign content during the early voting period. Pratt alleges that the mayor campaigned too close to ballot boxes, potentially breaking regulations that prohibit promoting a candidate's campaign within 100 feet of polling locations.
The controversy stems from videos and photos posted by Bass showing campaign signs, supporters encouraging people to vote for her, and notably, a ballot dropbox visible in the footage. Pratt contends that the presence of the dropbox in campaign materials demonstrates a violation of the 100-foot buffer zone requirement.
The City Clerk's Office has also forwarded the complaint to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office, which administers the June 2 primary election. This dual referral ensures that both law enforcement and election administration officials will review the allegations.
Representatives for Bass dismissed the complaint, suggesting that Pratt's motivation stems from political rivalry rather than legitimate concern. The mayor's camp stated that Pratt is upset because Bass has real supporters, in contrast to what they characterized as artificial online engagement.
The matter now rests with the LAPD, which will determine whether to pursue an investigation into the allegations. The decision to refer the complaint follows established procedures for handling electioneering violations, though it remains unclear what timeline the department will follow in reviewing the case.
This development adds another chapter to the ongoing political tension between Pratt and Bass as the June primary election approaches. The outcome of the LAPD review could have implications for campaign practices and enforcement of electioneering regulations in Los Angeles.
