Ed Buck, the well-known local Democratic Party donor under investigation for possible involvement in the death from a drug overdose of Gemmel Moore, a young African-American sex worker, has come out of hiding with a verbal attack by his lawyer tonight on WeHo City Councilmember Lindsey Horvath.
Buck’s attorney, Seymour Amster, appeared before the West Hollywood City Council to say he is demanding an investigation of comments that Horvath made about Buck. Amster apparently was referring to Horvath’s statement at the Aug. 21 City Council meeting that she had contacted the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Department and asked them to “take the necessary steps to make it possible for anyone with information pertinent to this case to safely come forward. I want all facts surrounding this case to be known.”
Amster said that Horvath in making her comments did not disclose that Buck opposed her election and had campaigned against her. He said he wanted a grand jury to look at Horvath’s private emails and telephone records to “determine if she has been involved in instigating, promoting or financing the character attack on Mr. Buck.”
In her comments at the Aug. 21 City Council meeting, Horvath said: “I am sad to hear the news of his tragic passing and I’m deeply disturbed by the accounts in local reports. As you have heard, the case involves someone well-known to this community and in LGBT and local political circles. In full disclosure, I have not received contributions from that individual but I want to state clearly that it shouldn’t matter who the subject of an investigation is – an investigation must be conducted thoroughly and without prejudice.”
“Our local (Sheriff’s) station needs to be a refuge for victims of crime regardless of skin color or immigration status, regardless of whether they’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol, regardless of the circumstances that brought them into the station – all victims of crime need to be heard,” Horvath said. “And I ask that both LASD and the L.A. County District Attorney’s office take the necessary steps to make it possible for anyone with information pertinent to this case to safely come forward. I want all facts surrounding this case to be known.”
Moore, 26, was found dead on July 27 in Buck’s apartment on Laurel Avenue in West Hollywood. The L.A. County Coroner’s office originally ruled the death was an accident caused by the use of methamphetamine. However, pages from Moore’s journal, published in August by Jasmyne Cannick, a black communications and public affairs strategist, prompted the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department to open an investigation into Moore’s death. In those pages, Moore described his drug use and his relationship with Buck. Gemmel also has interviewed other young black men who said that Buck paid them to do drugs with him and has published photos of Buck with at least one of them.
On Aug. 31, Nana Gyamfi, a human rights attorney and legal consultant working with Moore’s family, announced that the District Attorney has agreed to grant the immunity from prosecution requested by Horvath and members of Moore’s family for sex workers willing to talk about their relationship with Buck.
Since the revelation of details of his relationship with Moore, Buck has been conspicuously absent and unavailable for response to the accusations. However Amster has issued statements claiming Buck is innocent.
“It is unfortunate that the sheriff’s department is reacting to unsubstantiated allegations,” Amster said last month. “This is a tragedy, not a crime. He had no involvement in Gemmel Moore’s death. Unfortunately, he opened his home to an individual who was troubled.”
“Whatever Moore did, Mr. Buck was not around when he did it. He was in the apartment at the time of his death. We’re not sure where Mr. Moore took whatever he took to cause the overdose.”
Amster’s loud outburst tonight isn’t unprecedented. While representing Lonnie Franklin Jr., a man known as the “Grim Sleeper” who was charged with killing nine women and a 15-year-old girl between 1985 and 2007, Amster repeatedly shouted at a judge and refused to proceed with the trial at one point and also spent hours in heated arguments with the prosecutor.
Horvath tonight acknowledged Amster’s statement but said she wanted to comment instead on Gemmel Moore. “Gemmel Moore was 26 years old at the time of his passing, 26 years old,” Horvath said. “By all accounts he was a thoughtful, caring and giving person. His family and friends are still reeling at his death … I hope Gemmel Moore’s family and friends find the justice they are seeking for Gemmel.”
Buck is known for his successful promotion of a fur ban in West Hollywood, for his promotion of John D’Amico’s successful first run for a seat on the West Hollywood City Council and his donations to local, state and national Democratic Party candidates including Hillary Clinton. The only current member of the City Council who has not received a campaign donation from Buck is Horvath.
I add….Lindsey Horvath is saying exactly what I said since 19o7. I am not a recognized public official so I am ignored but we MUST see LASD start INVESTIGATING AND CONVICTING the criminals of any potential of foul play at drug fueled incidents. Lindsey Horvath has my agrrement on her statement. It should not matter that LASD needs to respond and investigate drug fueled incidents without needing City Council to enforce their Public Duty. If I was in public office…I would Volunteer to do some Crises Interventions and find out how dangerous it is without a police force their to… Read more »
In 1997 I was requested to assist a Crises Intervention but was not assisted by Weho Sheriffs after 911 call before jumped and strangled by drug addicts/dealers attacking the victim I was asked to assist. LASD did not arrest the violent drug dealers when they arrived. Since Attempted Murder is a crime we experienced without their arrest I would say in 2017 the issue of Drug addicts and Dealers in Weho is serious without proper actions to prevent the outcome. I risked my neck to save the life of a woman in need of Rehab and saved her life. Possibly… Read more »
Another hired character assassin trying to deflect instead of defending. Because on surface it seems his client is indefensible. Horvath is not the tallest of the council members but she stands head and shoulders above the rest for this bold, and necessary statement rom a public official. #ImwithLIndsey The shame is that the entire council did not echo or endorse her call for a full and above board investigation.
No one is above the law.
Hopefully we will see a lot less of Seymour.
Woody hit the nail on the head. This tragedy should not be played out as a public media soap opera. Horvath should have reserved her comments for the appropriate time. The city council’s behavior only makes this a greater embarrassment to the city. We’ve had enough of that
Love the photo of Mr.Amster. Is he catching flies? Ms. Horvath moved on from the barbs flung at her years ago. She was simply encouraging responsible behavior and for folks to step forward without fear. No limelight involved. If the council members had said nothing, folks would have been up in arms. Mr. Buck’s behavior is a matter of record.
This was in today’s L.A. Times. Pitiful & embarrassing. Unfortunate that the CC got involved in this sad strange case that is obviously under investigation by qualified authorities. They should have the presence of mind (& professionalism & class) to let the investigation take it’s course until the results are determined before making public comments. Someone might be looking for publicity & it’s wrong to use sad situations like this to do so
When the facts are on your side, pound the facts. When the law is on your side, pound the law. When you have neither, pound the table.
You missed the best part — When Amster finished speaking, the next guy quipped, “Is there such a thing as the opposite of a tough act to follow?” Everyone in the room laughed.
‘Horvath asked them to “take the necessary steps to make it possible for anyone with information pertinent to this case to safely come forward. I want all facts surrounding this case to be known.” Amster said that Horvath in making her comments did not disclose that Buck opposed her election and had campaigned against her.’ — She can’t do the right thing, and make sure it is a comfortable environment for people to come forward? Just because he opposed her campaign, that makes it a political thing? Does everything have to be assumed to be politically motivated? Just like Duran… Read more »
It’s a further shame the multiple trajedies involved in Gemmel’s death and the cloud over Buck has to now be turned into a Trumpian-esque side show. Why has this become the modern American playbook?
Mr. Bucks Attorney is grasping at straws. He’s upset that the diary that Gemmel Moore kept states what was going on? So he wants to investigate Lindsey Horvath out of retaliation because she is standing on the TRUTH? We will support Lindsey Horvath!
Ms. Horvath may find our community would be better served by using her position to shed light on the tragic Meth epidemic, and all it’s victims, and let due process run it’s course unimpeded by politicians.