A campaign opposing the recall of L.A. City Councilmember Mike Bonin disclosed on Monday that the display of opponents' addresses in a campaign video was unintentional.
The Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation on Monday into vandalism of a recall activist's home, which may have been linked to information contained in the video.
On Sept. 10, the anti-recall committee released a video on its Twitter account that displayed a publicly available document bearing addresses for Chad Morgan and Katrina Schmitt, both involved in the recall effort against Bonin.
A spokesperson for the anti-recall campaign said the addresses were shown at the bottom of the screen for approximately three seconds and was included in error. The committee removed the video on Sept. 15.
The LAPD is now investigating an incident of vandalism that allegedly occurred at Schmitt's home on the evening of Sept. 16. Schmitt said a glass door was shattered by an unknown force or assailant. LAPD have not yet confirmed whether the home was targeted for its connection to Schmitt and the recall effort.
Schmitt told The Los Angeles Times that the committee's publication of the video was "intentional reckless." The committee has responded by characterizing the outcry as "manufactured controversy" intended to "hide the news that key recall supporters include [...] a former Trump employee, and supporters of Larry Elder."
"They don't want the public to know who is donating to their secretive, dark money PAC," the campaign said in a statement.
Schmitt told The Times she is a Democrat who opposed the recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Morgan, the campaign's designated representative, has been characterized as a registered Republican linked to conservative politicians and activists in Orange County.
The committee ultimately admitted that it "inadvertently disclosed personal information" and deleted posts containing the video.
Bonin is one of three L.A. city councilmembers facing recall campaigns this year. Proponents of all three efforts cite the councilmembers' handling of the city's homelessness issue.
The petition against Bonin was approved for circulation in July. It needs 27,387 signatures by Nov. 10 to qualify for the 2022 ballot.
