Mayor Karen Bass put her desire to be reelected ahead of the truth when it came to the failures leading up to the Palisades fire — scorching former LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley in her alleged path of lies — according to a new defamation lawsuit brought against Bass by Crowley.
Crowley served as Fire Chief in Los Angeles from March 2022 to February 2025, and was in charge during the devastating fires in January 2025. Crowley repeatedly warned Bass and LA’s City Council of the fire department’s staffing and resource shortages — submitting detailed reports and budget requests, according to the lawsuit obtained by The California Post.
When the Palisades Fire happened and Bass left town, she did not tell key city personnel, including Crowley, the lawsuit said.
After the devastation of the fires was truly realized, with billions of dollars in damages and 12 dead, Bass then shifted blame elsewhere, according to the lawsuit.
“She sought to avoid accountability by shifting blame and lying — including by falsely claiming that she was not aware of the nationally anticipated weather event, falsely claiming that the LAFD’s budget was not cut, falsely claiming that LAFD’s resources would have supported an additional 1,000 firefighters to fight the blaze, and falsely claiming LAFD’s operational fire engines were not used on January 7, 2025 — claims contradicted by public records and Bass’ own prior statements and/or conduct,” the lawsuit said.
After announcing her bid for reelection, Bass continued to make the false statements, according to the lawsuit. “These were not mistakes but instead were and continue to be a deliberate strategy to mislead the public and divert criticism of Bass’ decisions, in her bid to win the election.”
The lawsuit details a LAFD budget battle between Bass and Crowley that ultimately saw an alleged reduction in LAFD’s operating budget for 2024-’25 by $17.6 million and eliminating 61 positions.
Crowley also claimed to have a meeting with Bass in her office to discuss ongoing problems with the LAFD’s emergency ambulances, fire engines, and fire trucks in August 2024, according to the lawsuit.
Bass also allegedly knew about dangerous winds in Los Angeles when she decided to leave the country for Ghana before the Palisades Fire — a trip she didn’t tell Crowley was happening, the lawsuit said.
“Bass chose to conceal that she would be out of the country from Crowley, and others, while knowing of an impending dangerous weather event in the City,” the lawsuit said.
The Post reached out to Bass’ office for comment.