After digging through thousands of public records associated with former council member Jose Huizar, one thing that became clear is that he enjoyed a good meal. His discerning palate did not discriminate, feasting at Mexican restaurants in Boyle Heights to upscale Italian eateries in the Arts District.
According to Huizar’s calendars, he was a fixture at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, Drago Centro, Factory Kitchen, and Officine Brera. However, despite dining at some of the city’s top eating establishments, the former council member wasn’t above meeting at a Denny’s or a local La Monarca panadería.
The word “restaurant” appears at least ten times in the 138-page RICO indictment against Huizar. Federal prosecutors allege that Huizar accepted some bribes as he dined out. During one meeting, Huizar allegedly counted a $15,000 payment from a business person while seated at an upscale Italian restaurant before using a napkin to conceal the cash. A couple of months later, the FBI raided the council member’s offices and home.
Huizar’s lawyers recently introduced a motion to dismiss the majority of the bribery charges against him, arguing that his actions did not amount to an official act. A hearing scheduled for earlier this month to address the motion was postponed until an undisclosed future date.
Regardless of what took place at these meetings, it’s undeniable that Huizar ate out A LOT. At times his schedule was so dense, he had two dinner meetings scheduled on the same night. And sometimes, he held two different meetings at the same restaurant in a single day.