‘No!’ LA Mayor Refuses to Answer Question On Why She Was In Africa When Deadly Fires Began

CBS News

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass deflected a question about her being overseas during the early stages of the wildfires that have claimed the lives of at least two dozen people.

The fires began last week in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Within days, however, the blaze spread to other parts of the region. It has since destroyed thousands of homes and burned tens of thousands of acres of land.

While emergency services mobilized to respond to the disaster, Bass was out of the country. At the time, the mayor was in Ghana for the inauguration of the country’s president. Upon returning to LA, Bass was promptly grilled over her absence and has continued to face harsh scrutiny. Some have even called for her to step down as mayor and to fire LAFD Fire Chief Kristin Crowley.

On Tuesday, CBS News’s Jonathan Vigliotti tried getting another comment out of Bass regarding her trip.

“Looking back,” he said, “would you have taken that trip overseas?”

Bass quickly deflected as the two went back and forth.

BASS: You know, I am gonna focus today on–

VIGLIOTTI: But, please, if–

BASS: –on what we — no. Thank you.

Bass then turned to leave as the crowd of reporters began shouting questions at her.

https://www.twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1879248296822071735

—