Caruso Reconsiders Political Future Amid Allegations Against LA Mayor Bass

Businessman Rick Caruso is reconsidering his political ambitions following allegations that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass pushed for a report on the devastating Palisades Fire to be watered down, just weeks after announcing he would not seek elected office.

Caruso, who lost to Bass in the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral race, expressed outrage over a Los Angeles Times report suggesting the mayor’s involvement in altering the fire investigation findings.

“Today’s @latimes report is an absolute outrage. Karen Bass actively covered up a report meant to examine the most significant disaster in Los Angeles history,” Caruso wrote on social media platform X. “When it comes to life safety matters, this is no longer a matter of making poor judgment, apologizing and moving forward.”

The businessman went further in his criticism, stating that the alleged actions represent “a complete loss of public trust and an intentional act of covering up the actions that led to people dying.”

When questioned by local television station KTTV about whether he was reconsidering his previous decision not to run for office, Caruso confirmed he was “certainly thinking about it.” He directly attributed this change of heart to the Times report, saying, “Yeah, yeah. Because incompetence is one thing. But it’s very different to mix incompetence, and now you’ve got somebody who is actively lying to the people that she has sworn to serve.”

The controversy stems from reporting by the Los Angeles Times, which cited sources claiming two individuals close to the mayor informed them about Bass’ role in modifying the fire report. One source allegedly stated that “the mayor didn’t tell the truth when she said she had nothing to do with changing the report.”

The Palisades Fire, which occurred in January 2025, caused widespread destruction along Pacific Coast Highway during a powerful windstorm. The incident has been described as one of the most significant disasters in Los Angeles’ recent history, resulting in multiple fatalities and extensive property damage across affluent neighborhoods.

Mayor Bass’s office has forcefully denied the allegations, calling the Times report “muckraking journalism at its lowest form.” In a statement to Fox News Digital, the mayor’s office said, “Mayor Bass has been unequivocal for months — she reviewed an early draft of the report and only asked the LAFD to make sure it was accurate on issues like weather and budget. She and her staff made no changes to the drafts.”

The statement further emphasized that Bass has been critical of the fire department’s response, noting that she installed new leadership at the LAFD and called for an independent review of fire containment efforts. “There is absolutely no reason why she would request those details be altered or erased when she herself has been critical of the response to the fire – full stop,” the statement added.

This political friction comes at a sensitive time for Los Angeles, as the city continues recovery efforts from the fire while addressing broader concerns about emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The controversy has reignited tensions between Caruso and Bass that defined their heated 2022 mayoral contest.

For Caruso, a prominent real estate developer best known for creating The Grove shopping center, this potential return to politics would represent a significant reversal from his statement last month indicating he would “not pursue elected office at this time.”

Political analysts suggest the controversy could reshape the Los Angeles political landscape, particularly if Caruso decides to challenge Bass in a future election. The allegations also raise questions about transparency in city government and accountability in the aftermath of natural disasters.