Good morning. We are now on the record. The time is 10.05 a.m. on February 8th, 2021.

Just a few years ago, a group of lawyers got together on a video conference to question a witness.

Would you please raise your hand. You do solemnly state under penalty of perjury that the testimony you shall give in this

that the truth will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

I do.

This witness almost avoided testifying, but a judge said he had important information in the case and ordered him to sit for a deposition.

At the time, he was one of the most powerful people in the city of Los Angeles.

Sir, state your full name and spell it please.

Eric with a C Michael M I C H H A L Garcetti, G A R C E R C E T T T T I.

By that point Eric Garcetti had been the mayor of Los Angeles for almost eight years.

He had been a co-chair of Joe Biden's 2020 presidential

campaign and a rising star in the Democratic Party and he was not used to

be in question this way. Have you ever had your deposition taken before? No, this is my first. this case was about allegations of sexual harassment

inside Los Angeles City Hall. Garcetti was not accused of

harassing anyone himself but he was accused of witnessing and enabling harassment and intimidation by one of his close friends and top political advisors over the course of years.

Garcetti had told reporters, he knew nothing about any alleged harassment in his office.

It all came as a shock, he said.

But now he was talking to the lawyers.

You're under oath, and even though you're the mayor of Los Angeles,

penalty of perjury does attach to your testimony today,

you understand that.

Of course. But whether Garcetti actually did tell the whole truth,

...