The federal trial of former Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan was put on hold for three weeks after his attorney, Harland Braun, reportedly fell ill.
A deputy mayor who oversaw economic development for ex-Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2016 and 2017, Chan is charged with allegedly arranging indirect bribe payments to city officials .
Chan, 66, is accused of being a key member of what prosecutors dubbed the Council District 14 enterprise, a conspiracy in which former Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar—assisted by others—unlawfully used his office to give favorable treatment to real estate developers who financed and facilitated bribes and other illicit benefits.
The former deputy mayor faces a dozen criminal counts, including racketeering conspiracy, bribery, honest services fraud, and lying to federal agents for his alleged role in a "pay-to-play" scheme that prosecutors say netted millions.
During his opening statement, Braun said his client was innocent and blamed prosecutors for being overly ambitious. The 80-year-old attorney is known for coming to the defense of celebrity clients such as Roman Polanski, Gary Busy, and Dennis Rodman.