Anaheim Mayor Resigns Amid Corruption Probe In Angel Stadium Sale

ANAHEIM, CA — Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu announced his resignation Monday amid the growing fallout of a federal public corruption investigation involving his conduct in the $320 million sale of Angel Stadium.

Paul Meyer, Sidhu's attorney, said in a statement the mayor denied doing anything wrong and that he's stepping down so that he won't be a continued distraction for the city.

"In order to continue to act in the best interests of Anaheim and allow this great city to move forward without distraction, Harry Sidhu has resigned from his post as mayor effective May 24, 2022," Meyer said. "Meeting the needs of the community has been and will always be Harry Sidhu's top priority."

Sidhu has not been arrested or charged with a crime.

Sidhu's resignation comes almost a week after news broke Wednesday of a federal corruption probe targeting his conduct in the sale of Angel Stadium to Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno.

A federal affidavit alleged Sidhu rushed the $320 million sale as a way to solicit campaign contributions.

The affidavit said Sidhu was part of a small group of individuals who tightly controlled Anaheim politics.

The six remaining members of the Anaheim City Council called on Sidhu to step down following news of the investigation.

Mayor Pro Tem Trevor O'Neil and Council Members Stephen Faessel and Jose Diaz issued a joint letter Wednesday that said the investigation was "deeply troubling" and "raises serious concerns and questions about [Sidhu's] ability to continue as mayor of Anaheim."

The federal investigation led to charges of making false statements to a financial institution against Todd Ament, CEO of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce.

Melahat Rafiei, a prominent Orange County Democrat, announced that she was resigning from leadership roles in the Democratic Party after she told Voice of OC she was a cooperating witness in the FBI's investigation following a 2019 arrest on attempted bribery charges. Rafiei has denied the 2019 charges and they were dropped "without prejudice," meaning they could be refiled, the Voice of OC reported.