Top Senator Calls for Investigation into LA Mayor Over Palisades Fire Report

Senator claims Mayor Bass allegedly altered report to make city look better after devastating blaze

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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A top U.S. Senator has called for an investigation into Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, accusing her of doctoring an official report on the devastating Palisades fires in order to cover up the city's failures and make the response look better. Senator Rick Scott, who is leading a federal probe into the fires, said the alleged edits appear to be "fraud to cover-up a disaster" and has tagged the U.S. Attorney General in his social media posts demanding action.

Why it matters

The Palisades fires in Los Angeles caused over $150 billion in damage, destroyed 16,000 homes and structures, and resulted in 12 fatalities. If the allegations against Mayor Bass are true, it would represent a serious abuse of power and attempt to mislead the public about the city's failed response to the disaster.

The details

According to reports, Mayor Bass allegedly altered the after-action report on the Palisades fires to make the city's response appear more effective and successful than it actually was. The original report claimed city leaders went "above and beyond" in their duties, despite the massive scale of destruction and loss of life. Senator Scott has accused Bass of "fraud" in an attempt to "cover-up a disaster" and avoid legal liability for the city's failures.

  • The Palisades fires occurred in 2025.
  • The after-action report was released in early 2026.

The players

Senator Rick Scott

A U.S. Senator who is leading a federal investigation into the Palisades fires and has accused Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of doctoring an official report on the disaster.

Mayor Karen Bass

The Mayor of Los Angeles who has been accused of altering the after-action report on the Palisades fires to make the city's response appear more effective.

Pam Bondi

The U.S. Attorney General who Senator Scott has tagged in his social media posts, calling for an investigation into Mayor Bass's alleged actions.

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What they’re saying

“If@MayorOfLA altered this report to cover up the truth in any way, people deserve to know. I sure hope there's no obstruction of justice here, but for the sake of the victims who've gone a year with no answers, it's worth looking into.”

— Senator Rick Scott (X)

“While they're at it, I'd suggest they look into this... sure seems like fraud to cover-up a disaster to me.”

— Senator Rick Scott (X)

What’s next

The U.S. Attorney General's office has announced the launch of a task force to investigate allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse in California, which could include a probe into Mayor Bass's actions regarding the Palisades fire report.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of government transparency and accountability, especially in the aftermath of major disasters. If the allegations against Mayor Bass are true, it would represent a serious breach of public trust and a failure to properly serve the victims of the Palisades fires.