United States v. Handel
Case Number: 2:20-cr-00612-ODW-1
Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Client: Los Angeles Times
Motion to Intervene and Unseal Filed: Aug. 30, 2024
Background: In 2020, the federal government charged property developer Mark Handel with a range of financial crimes. The indictment included allegations that he “solicited large amounts of donations from his business associates and others to be paid to politicians.”
Nearly a year after being charged, Handel filed under seal a motion to compel specific discovery from the government in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, noting in a reply brief in support of that motion that the records were kept hidden from the public because they contain “information on law enforcement’s investigation into politicians and their staffers.” The government later confirmed during a hearing on the motion that “the briefing is sealed” in part because it references “public officials” who “don’t want that out there.”
After Handel entered a guilty plea in 2023, the government filed additional records under seal, specifically six attachments to its sentencing memorandum, including several “witness interview reports.” In court filings related to his sentencing, Handel argued that the prosecution’s genesis was an effort by the government to obtain his cooperation in investigating public corruption.
On behalf of the Los Angeles Times, which has reported extensively on Handel’s business endeavors, attorneys from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press filed this motion to intervene and unseal the materials related to Handel’s motion to compel discovery and the exhibits to the government’s sentencing position, with the exception of grand jury transcripts. Reporters Committee attorneys argue that the Times has a common law and First Amendment right of access to the sealed documents.
Filings:
2024-08-30: Motion to intervene and unseal
2024-08-30: Memorandum of points and authorities in support of motion to intervene and unseal