Hahn Leads Questioning of Bradley

In an unusual move, City Atty. James K. Hahn personally led a marathon interview of Mayor Tom Bradley on Wednesday as Hahn’s staff and Los Angeles Police Department investigators entered the closing phase of a five-month conflict-of-interest investigation involving the mayor and his associates.

Tight security surrounded details of the session, which began at 9 a.m., continued through a deli sandwich lunch and wound up in the late afternoon. Bradley’s press spokesman, Bill Chandler, would confirm only that the meeting occurred. Neither Chandler nor anyone from the city attorney’s office would comment on specifics of the interviews, which are scheduled to resume today.

But sources familiar with the city attorney’s office procedures said Hahn broke with normal office policy by personally leading the investigative team into the interview inside the Mayor’s City Hall third-floor office complex. One source said Hahn went to the interview because it involved a “high-level� subject.

Unusual Lull in Appearances

Bradley’s appointment with the city attorney’s office came after an unusual three-day lull in the mayor’s public appearances. Chandler said that the mayor has been holding “private meetings� but refused to say whether Bradley had spent the time with his lawyers preparing for Wednesday’s interview.

Since the beginning of April, Hahn’s office has been investigating a series of possible conflict-of-interest issues involving the mayor, most notably his relationship to Far East National Bank, where he served as an $18,000-a-year paid adviser in 1988 at a time that city funds were put on deposit with the bank.

Also under investigation is a city-financed task force, which was formed to promote trade with Africa, and the source of funds for at least two overseas trips taken by Bradley, one to Africa and the other to Israel.

Parallel Investigation

Two detectives from the LAPD’s fraud and bunco squad are conducting a parallel but independent probe of the same issues with information being shared between the two agencies.

Hahn is scheduled to deliver a report on his findings to the City Council in mid-September, including recommendations, if any, for misdemeanor or felony prosecutions.

A source familiar with the investigation said this week’s interviews with Bradley mean that investigators are nearing the end of their “field work�--the actual investigation--and shortly will begin sorting information and writing their report.

Hahn’s presence emphasizes the significance--and political sensitivity--of the Bradley investigation to an office not accustomed to political corruption probes, said one city attorney’s office source.

“This is a very unique situation,� the source said. “No rules apply.�

Another experienced lawyer who works in the city attorney’s office said it is unusual for Hahn to participate in interviews of subjects, but the lawyer noted that the investigation of the mayor is an unusual case.

“I don’t think Jim (Hahn) has ever been faced with anything quite this serious,� said the attorney, who asked not to be identified. “What he comes out with not only will affect his own political career, but Bradley’s political career. It’s not something to take lightly.�

Bradley and Hahn both are Democrats in nonpartisan elective office and share an almost identical base among black voters.

Council Questions

Given the political pressures on Hahn, some City Council members have publicly questioned whether Hahn can conduct a genuine investigation of the mayor. Others have raised the possibility of appointing an independent prosecutor, but nothing has come of such proposals.

While Hahn was winding up his investigation, the City Council on Wednesday made plans to review Hahn’s report when it is completed in mid-September.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Governmental Ethics directed its staff to draw up a list of potential candidates to serve as special consultants to the committee. The consultants would help the committee work its way through the report, look for any gaps or misinterpretations and aid committee members in preparing questions for witnesses who would be called to testify at planned committee hearings.

However, the committee cannot hire an independent attorney without the permission of Hahn, who has said that it is not necessary.

Woo’s Position

But Councilman Michael Woo, chairman of the committee, said he can hire a lawyer to act as an investigator.

Primary concerns include making sure that “all appropriate questions were asked� by the city attorney in conducting his investigation, Woo said.

To that end, Woo said, he would consider calling Bradley to testify and assure the council and the public that the investigation left no questions unanswered.

Times staff writers Frederick M. Muir and Glenn Bunting contributed to this story.