Page 3
Gascón’s Chief of Staff Says She Will Be Office ‘Villian’
Former Deputy Public Defender Blacknell Continues to Attract Controversy
By a MetNews Staff Writer
|
|
|
The Instagram posting, above, by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón’s chief of staff, Tiffiny Blackwell, has drawn criticism. |
Tiffiny Blacknell, who was brought over from the Public Defender’s Office by District Attorney George Gascón in early 2021 and is now his chief of staff, has indicated in an Instagram posting that in the days before newly elected Nathan Hochman is sworn in as the chief county prosecutor on Dec. 2, she will be an office “villian.”
Depicted is a person in garb and make-up creating a resemblance to The Joker, an evildoer in Batman movies and comic books.
A second post, which appears to be a follow-up comment by a third party, expresses “deep, guttural rage,” apparently over the results of the Nov. 5 election in which Hochman, a former assistant U.S. attorney general, toppled Gascón by more than 22 percentage points, as of the latest count.
Gascón has been a controversial figure from the time he took office on Dec. 9, 2020, on that day issuing a series of special directives that were generally viewed by deputies as pro-criminal defendants, and sparking largely successful litigation by the Association of Deputy District Attorneys to overturn the policies.
Deputy Emails Gascón
The Instagram messages drew criticism, including that contained in a Thursday night email from Deputy District Attorney John Colello of the Major Narcotics Division to Gascón, saying:
“I am reporting what I believe is a threat of violence in/to the DA workplace and/or DDAs/office employees by Chief of Staff Tiffiny Blacknell. Attached are two screenshots of photos/statements posted on her social media that I received this afternoon from numerous work colleagues. Ms. Blacknell discusses her ‘villian [sic] era at work’ above the Joker character in what appears to be an office setting. It is important to note that the Joker murdered numerous people in the Batman movie and the definition of ‘villain’ includes characters ‘whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot’ and ‘one blamed for a particular evil or difficulty.’ ”
“Given the fact that you just lost the DA election (and the Presidential election appeared to divide many in our country) and because emotions may be running high (see today’s message from Director of Personnel Lisa M. Garrett—Coping with Political Discord), I am concerned for my safety and my colleagues’ safety in the DA workplace based on Ms. Blacknell’s postings. Her other posting about a ‘deep, guttural rage’ is disturbing and also appears to contain gender and racial undercurrents. I am concerned for Ms. Blacknell’s state of mind as well.
“Both postings clearly violate the professionalism and dignity that the Office and common decency demand. They are also a clear violation of Office and County policies. They may rise to criminal threats or attempted criminal threats. I am therefore making a formal complaint of misconduct against Ms. Blacknell and ask that a formal investigation take place immediately.”
Detractor Comments
Deputy District Attorney John Lewin, a vocal critic of Gascón, posted this message, quoting statements Blacknell has made:
“WOW! Look at the PUBLIC post on her Instagram by soon to be FORMER LADA Chief of Staff and ex-public defender, self admitted ‘proud looter,’ Tiffiny ‘The police are trained to kill us,’ ‘LAPD is a barbarian occupying army’ & ‘prison is ‘obsolete & should be abolished’ Blacknell.
“It’s almost as if she wants us all to see her threats!!
“Hey Tiffiny, here’s a helpful piece of advice for you. It’s probably not a great idea to publicly announce that you are planning on going ‘Joker’ by initiating your ‘Villian Era’ at your place of employment!! IT SCARES PEOPLE!!
“Doesn’t this express threat, which appears to be directed at her co- workers, violate county policy?”
He added in a second comment:
“SIDE NOTE: If her prior conduct was nice and helpful,” it was only to the violent criminals she freed/ tired to free in back door deals like the one she got caught pulling in Judge Mark Arnold’s court!!
|
|
|
Blacknell is seen with District Attorney George Gascón. |
Within days after Gascón was elected, Blacknell, who was on his transition team but was still a deputy public defender, reportedly tried to engineer a “sweetheart” plea bargain for an accused murderer without contacting the deputy district attorney in charge of the prosecution, dealing instead with a special assistant to the new district attorney. Arnold put the kibosh on the plan.
Copyright 2024, Metropolitan News Company