Los Angeles County prosecutor Diana Teran is facing 11 felony charges for allegedly obtaining confidential information on 11 deputies in 2018 while working at the sheriff’s office and then using the information while working for District Attorney George Gascon three years later.
While working under Gascon, Teran allegedly used some of the improperly obtained data to assist criminal defendants and suppress prosecutors.
Teran served as the leader of the office’s ethics and integrity unit, being responsible for divisions that prosecuted misconduct allegations against police and other public officials, according to Fox News Digital. For months, Teran remained in the position despite the investigation into her.
Teran is accused of mishandling what is known as Brady material, or information about police misconduct that must be turned over to defense attorneys. She allegedly took information from the sheriff’s office that included unsustained allegations.
“The controversy deepens now with allegations that Teran illegally introduced sensitive information into DA databases — information that she and Gascon knew would inevitably be shared with defense attorneys,” John McKinney, an LA deputy district attorney, wrote on X. “This alleged breach, committed by someone entrusted to uphold the highest legal standards, represents serious criminal acts and shows a void in judgment and leadership by Gascon.”
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However, Gascon defended how his office conducted its Brady policies.
“When I took office, we developed a protocol that ensured we complied with our constitutional obligations under Brady, which requires us to turn over potentially exculpatory evidence to the defense, a category that includes law enforcement’s prior misconduct, while simultaneously complying with state and federal law around privacy,” Gascon said. “I stand by that protocol.”
