A prominent Los Angeles prosecutor, John Lewin, is suing the county in a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit. He is asking a judge to compel his boss, District Attorney George Gascon, to sit for a deposition under oath. Lewin claims he was demoted after questioning the legality of Gascon’s policies. Gascon has reportedly refused to show up for previously scheduled depositions, leading to the motion to compel.
If the order is granted, it would be the first time Gascon is deposed under oath in one of the many lawsuits filed against him by subordinates. In a previous lawsuit, Gascon was ordered to sit for a deposition, but the trial started before he had the chance, and he ended up testifying instead. The trial resulted in a $1.5 million judgment for another Deputy District Attorney, Shawn Randolph.
Lewin filed the retaliation lawsuit after he was demoted for speaking out against Gascon’s policies. He raised concerns about the legality of special directives issued by Gascon after he took office in 2020. A judge later issued an injunction against policies that prevented deputy district attorneys from filing certain offenses under California’s “three strikes” law.
Despite the demotion, Lewin remains dedicated to serving the citizens of Los Angeles County. He recently returned from leave to prosecute a cold case murder and sex crime suspect. His attorney emphasized Lewin’s unique skill set and dedication to his work.
In addition to Lewin, another prosecutor, John McKinney, was also demoted from the Major Crimes Division after disagreeing with Gascon’s policies. Gascon’s office has faced numerous retaliation lawsuits, with at least 17 filed by the time Randolph won her case in 2023.
Gascon’s office has not yet responded to the latest filing in Lewin’s case. A hearing on the motion to compel Gascon to sit for a deposition has been scheduled for September. Lewin’s attorney described the demotion as a blatant act of retaliation and emphasized Lewin’s commitment to seeking justice and upholding the law.
