Exclusive | Dark tactics Karen Bass is using to dodge sworn Palisades Fire deposition

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is refusing to answer questions under oath about her handling of the deadly Palisades Fire, according to an attorney for former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, whom Bass ousted after the blaze.

Crowley’s attorney Mia Munro wants to question Bass over allegedly “false” claims she made during a May mayoral debate, which are at the center of a defamation lawsuit Crowley filed in June.

Crowley wants to know what Bass knew, when she knew it and why she repeated the claims during the debate, according to a source close to the case.

But Bass, through her attorney Ian Van Dusen, has declined to sit for a deposition. Munro said in a sworn statement she was “advised that Bass would not agree to any discovery.” Bass’ team, however, said she has not even received a deposition notice. 

Munro, on behalf of Crowley, was seeking “a limited deposition of Defendant Karen Bass, addressing the issue of Bass’ state of mind” during the debate, according to recent filings.

During the televised event, where she shared a stage with candidates Nithya Raman and Spencer Pratt, Bass was asked about her decision to cut the LAFD’s operational budget and the resulting disrepair of engines on the day the Palisades Fire broke out. 

“The primary problem there was that the chief sent home a thousand firefighters,” Bass answered.

“There were also fire trucks that were out of use because she had sent the firefighters home,” and “there was supposed to have been deployment and pre-deployment in the area. That did not happen,” Bass continued.

“Each statement is false, and Bass knew it. The LAFD’s official documents, to which Bass had access as Mayor, show that her statements were false”, Crowley’s complaint said. 

Not only has the Mayor refused a deposition, she won’t admit that the statements she made at the debate were factual, according to Munro’s statement. 

Attorneys for Crowley asked Bass to respond to written discovery admitting or denying that these were her statements, Van Dusen refused to have Bass respond, filing an anti slapp motion.

“Bass has chosen not to sign a declaration attesting that the statements she made about (Crowley) at the Mayoral Debate were true, or that Bass believed that the statements were true,” Munro said in her statement.

Another big question Crowley’s defense team wants answered is who is paying for Bass’ defense. “Is the City of Los Angeles? The lawsuit is based on Karen Bass, the candidate, not the official,” a person close to the case told The Post.

“Bass could not be sued individually if acting in the capacity of Mayor. She’s trying to use official immunity, but she made the comments on a campaign debate stage. Our tax dollars shouldn’t be paying for this,” they continued.

A judge is expected to make a decision on Crowley’s discovery motion on November 2, the day before the election. “It’s entirely political, her refusal is very much rooted in her personal interest,” the person close to the case said.

Crowley filed the defamation suit against Bass after a very public feud that unfolded shortly after the January 2025 Palisades blaze destroyed nearly 7000 structures and killed 12.

Bass allegedly called into question Crowley’s decision-making surrounding the fire after Crowley had publicly criticized Bass, who was in Ghana when the fire broke out.

Crowley was dismissed from her position as LAFD Chief on February 21, 2025 when she was handed a note that said, “Unfortunately, you have exercised management incompatible with what is required of leaders of City departments. One example is the decision to send 1,000 firefighters home instead of keeping them on duty the morning that the fires broke out,” according to the defamation lawsuit. 

Bass then continued to spread lies, according to the lawsuit — including a false statement that Crowley refused to conduct an after-action fire report, refusing to admit the budget was cut, blaming Crowley for not pre-deploying more fire fighters and blaming Crowley for not personally calling Bass to discuss the dangerous weather conditions. 

Bass’ office was contacted for comment.

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