2003
Eric Garcetti and Rick Jacobs meet each other through former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean’s campaign for president.
2011
Garcetti announces that he is running for Los Angeles mayor. Jacobs hosts a fundraiser for Garcetti at his home and goes on to raise more than $2 million to support Garcetti’s candidacy.
2013
After winning the election, Garcetti is inaugurated as mayor of LA. Garcetti goes on to hire Jacobs as his deputy chief of staff.
2016
Jacobs goes on a leave of absence from his City Hall position to focus on Garcetti’s political campaigns and presidential ambitions. The two men ultimately work together on a political action committee and two nonprofit organizations.
2017
Garcetti wins reelection as mayor. Jacobs helps lead the successful campaign.
While in Miami Beach, Fla., at a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Jacobs places his hand in front of the crotch of a lobbyist while posing for a photo with Garcetti. The photo circulates widely among Garcetti’s staff. Jacobs later testifies that he was “making a really stupid joke.” Garcetti testifies that he did not witness Jacobs making the gesture.
2020
Garcetti endorses Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. Biden names him a co-chair of the campaign.
Jacobs and members of Garcetti’s inner circle, including his father, Gil Garcetti, receive a tip that a police officer on the mayor’s protective detail is planning to file a sexual harassment lawsuit with allegations against Jacobs.
LA Police Department officer Matthew Garza sues the city of Los Angeles, alleging that Jacobs sexually harassed him and that Garcetti witnessed and enabled the harassment.
Jacobs and Garcetti deny all wrongdoing after the media reports on the lawsuit.
Freelance journalist Yashar Ali sends a text message to Garcetti's chief strategist at City Hall, saying that “on many occasions Rick forcibly kissed me on the lips. I will likely be saying something about that soon.”
Garcetti sends a message to Jacobs: “I’m sorry for this bright light. It sucks.”
At a news conference, Garcetti says that he will continue to work with Jacobs, despite the harassment allegations, and that an investigation commissioned by the city attorney of Los Angeles will move forward. “Fundamentally, this is something that should take a process forward, but shouldn’t keep somebody who has been a committed public servant from being able to serve our community and our world,” Garcetti says.
Garcetti serves on the Biden campaign’s vice presidential selection committee, which chooses Kamala Harris as Biden’s running mate.
Jacobs steps down from his positions at the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles and Accelerator for America, and he ends contact with Garcetti.
2021
Garcetti testifies in the civil lawsuit filed by Garza.
A confidential report commissioned by the city attorney of Los Angeles — the same office defending the Garza lawsuit — concludes that Jacobs did not act inappropriately with Garza. The report does cite, however, evidence that Jacobs made sexual comments to co-workers and gave “tight” hugs and kisses on the cheeks to City Hall staff members.
2022
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, releases an investigative report finding that “Garcetti likely knew or should have known that Rick Jacobs was sexually harassing multiple individuals and making racist comments towards others.”
2023
The U.S. Senate confirms Garcetti in a 52-42 vote. Vice President Harris later swears in Garcetti as ambassador.
LA Mayor Karen Bass approves a $1.8 million settlement to resolve Garza's lawsuit.
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