According to their website the Orange County Grand Jury is “mandated to investigate and report on both criminal and civil matters within the county”. My question is whose responsibility is it to investigate the Grand Jury? As the result of recent developments surrounding the investigation of the City of Santa Ana’s handling of a transportation contract awarded to Cordoba Corporation and the subsequent Grand Jury report I believe that it is time for Attorney General Jerry Brown to open an investigation of the Grand Jury.
As was exclusively reported here on the Orange Juice in a May 26th post the investigation into the actions of the city and its elected officials was tainted and perhaps corrupted by the actions of one of the jury members, Glenn Stroud. Stroud, as most of you know, was removed from his position on the Santa Ana Redevelopment/Housing Commission by the city council late last year. Stroud was angry about the removal and has been a quite vocal critic of the council majority, especially Councilman Sal Tinajero and Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez.
His involvement in the investigation, questioning and issuing of this report may very likely have been predjudiced by his anger over his removal. I believe the only way to reassure the public that this process was conducted in a fair and unbiased manner is for the Attorney General’s office to proceed with a full and thorough investigation of the Grand Jury and Mr. Stroud.
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