FBI Searches Palm Spring City Hall, Mayor Pougnet’s Home

ReporterTimes Media: FBI and DA served the search warrant to the Palm Spring City Hall, the house of Mayor Pougnet. KESQ reported that the FBI agents started searching the City Hall at 9 am PT in relation to any criminal activities. They asked all the employees to leave the building, dropping cell phones inside and said that they would require several hours to collect evidence.

Moreover, KESQ also reported that the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and agents with the IRS are present on the scene, KESQ reported.

The Desert Sun reported that FBI agents have also closed the perimeter of the Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet’s apartment.

An FBI spokesperson told the reporters that this investigation is related to some public corruption charges.

When the Sun reporters asked the Palm Springs city  attorney Douglas Holland about the whole scenario, then he replied that City Hall staff is cooperating fully with the investigation. After that he stopped and didn’t comment further.

As of now, no one is taken into custody for no reasons or criminal activity. Meanwhile, the candidates for Mayor and the City Council are reportedly demanding the resignation of current city council members.

The City Hall building was closed by the FBI and DA to investigate it completely and it will remain close for the day.

The FBI and DA raided the home of Pougnet after the three months since the California Fair Political Practices Commission started looking into the decision made to give the developer Richard Meaney a deal on city property.

The Desert Sun had earlier alleged the mayor to have taken over $200,000 to do the consulting work for Union Abbey which is owned by Meaney and is a suspended business as of now.

As per the reports of the Sun, the authorities of California were demanding the Union Abbey to pay over $47,000 as the unpaid taxes when Pougnet joined the company.