Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias on Thursday called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the release of information about City Council candidate Naindeep Singh’s suspicion-of-DUI arrest, escalating a dispute over City Attorney Andrew Janz’s role in confirming the arrest to media.

Janz confirmed Singh’s arrest Sunday to at least one reporter the day after it occurred. However, GV Wire didn’t publish its story on Singh’s arrest until later Sunday after receiving confirmation from Fresno police.

Speaking at an afternoon news conference at Fresno City Hall, Arias outlined five actions he intends to bring before the council. They include terminating political consulting contracts involving the city attorney’s office, examining contracts associated with Fresno political consultant Alex Tavlian, and preserving records related to Singh’s arrest.

Arias also called for an independent investigation of those involved in the incident and the public release of its findings.

“We must preserve the public trust,” Arias said.

Tavlian declined to comment to GV Wire about the call by Arias for an investigation into his City Hall contracts.

In a statement following Arias’ news conference, Janz said that the statements made about him were false and defamatory. He also said he would seek to initiate his own investigation into interference with his office’s disclosure of public records.

“It is reckless for him to use City Hall and taxpayer resources as a megaphone for personal and political attacks against public employees,” Janz said. “Next week, I am calling on the city of Fresno to open an investigation into Councilmember Arias for interference in the city attorney’s legal obligation to disclose public records and potential violations of the Brown Act. My office follows the city charter and the law, and we will continue doing our job without getting dragged into Councilmember Arias’ political theater.”

A mailer paid by Miguel Arias for Fresno Unified Area 1 endorsed Singh, Esmeralda Soria, Maria Pacheco, Arias, Terance Frazier, and a “yes” vote on Measure S.

Arias Raises Concerns About Political Interference

Arias said the circumstances surrounding the arrest and subsequent disclosure have fueled public concerns about possible political interference. He questioned how Janz obtained information about the arrest and whether taxpayer resources were used appropriately.

At a Tuesday news conference, Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto said that while she did not inform Janz of Singh’s arrest, her office works with the city attorney on some issues.

Despite those concerns, Arias praised Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and Casto for their swift response to the incident.

A nine-page formal complaint requesting an independent investigation into Janz’s conduct was distributed at the news conference.

The complaint, dated Oct. 27 and written by Fresno attorney Iqbal Singh Bains, questioned whether Janz acted within his official authority, followed established procedures, or allowed political considerations to influence the disclosure of information about Singh.

“The circumstances surrounding Mr. Janz’s involvement raise serious questions concerning the scope of his official responsibilities, the source and timing of information provided to his office, his communications with members of the media, and whether his conduct served a legitimate governmental purpose,” Bains wrote.

In a previous statement to GV Wire, City Attorney spokesperson Marcelino Valdez said the city attorney’s office regularly responds to matters of public record and that withholding records would be unethical and wrong.

Local media outlets, including GV Wire, reported immediately on Tuesday when Singh was cleared of suspected DUI and found to not have drugs or alcohol in his system. Media outlets, including GV Wire, have reported on DUIs and suspicion of DUIs, as well as the criminal histories, of many local candidates and residents in the past.

How Did the City Attorney’s Office Get the Information?

Bains argued that Janz’s statements to media raise questions about who provided the information, when the notification occurred, and why the City Attorney’s Office became involved in communicating details of Singh’s law enforcement matter.

The complaint requested the preservation of emails, text messages, telephone logs, and other communications involving city officials, police personnel, journalists, and political representatives.

It also asked investigators to determine whether any political considerations influenced the timing or dissemination of information about Singh.

Bains acknowledged that the timing of the disclosure, approximately nine days before the election, does not by itself establish improper political motivation.

The complaint did not provide evidence of wrongdoing by Janz or any other city official.

Arias Questions City Attorney’s Political Consulting Contracts

Arias also raised questions about the connections between Tavlian’s political efforts and his City Hall work.

Campaign finance records distributed at the news conference detailed spending by the political action committee Fresno Healthy Communities, sponsored by Central Valley Council, of which Tavlian is the controlling officeholder, against council candidates Naindeep Singh, Arianna Martinez Lott, and Joaquin Arambula.

From July 1 through Oct. 17, the committee received $128,000 in contributions and reported $47,047 in expenditures, including $15,994 in independent expenditures against Singh, Martinez Lott, and Arambula.

(Disclosure: GV Wire’s publisher has donated to Central Valley Council. Tavlian confirmed to GV Wire on Thursday that Assemi’s contributions were designated solely to oppose the Measure S  transportation tax on the Nov. 3 ballot.)

Arias told GV Wire he was alarmed that, as a charter official, he had been denied access to contracts involving political consultants hired by the City Attorney’s Office.

Janz denied any connection to Tavlian.

When asked whether Arias would respond the same way if Robert Fuentes, Singh’s opponent, or another candidate were at the center of the controversy, Arias said he would.

“If any city agency was weaponized against Garry Bredefeld, I would be screaming just as loud because we have seen what the misuse and weaponization of a federal agency does to political opponents at the federal level,” Arias told GV Wire.