20/20 investigation Archives

L.A. County launches investigation into historic sex abuse settlement October 7, 2025

L.A. County's Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to begin an investigation into a $4-billion settlement following reporting by The Times that uncovered plaintiffs who said they were paid to sue.

Rebecca Ellis

Federal agents held him in a hospital for 37 days, at times shackled to his bed, without charging him October 7, 2025

Bayron Rovidio Marin broke his leg when immigration authorities raided the car wash where he worked in Carson in August. He was surveilled for more than a month in his hospital bed at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center before a federal judge ordered his release.

Brittny Mejia, Rachel Uranga

Sensitive police files to be opened up for watchdogs under new law signed by Newsom October 7, 2025

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that will expand access by oversight officials to confidential law enforcement records, enacting legislation backed by family members of people harmed by L.A. County sheriff's deputies.

Connor Sheets

Newsom signs bill that targets antisemitism and other discrimination in schools October 7, 2025

A new California law creates an Office for Civil Rights to monitor and help schools comply with state antidiscrimination laws.

Howard Blume

Tom Girardi's son-in-law is sentenced in legal fraud scandal October 7, 2025

David Lira, the son-in-law of disgraced attorney Tom Giradi, gets four months in prison for his involvement in a scheme in which payments were withheld from the survivors of plane crash victims.

Clara Harter

Trash fees will spike for many L.A. residents in aftermath of city's fiscal crisis October 7, 2025

The waste collection program had previously been heavily subsidized, to the tune of about $500,000 a day, which was no longer viable given the city's financial straits.

Julia Wick

California's Jet Propulsion Laboratory braces for layoffs as federal budget battle drags on October 7, 2025

Agency officials confirmed that layoffs are imminent this month, but declined to provide an exact number of affected employees.

Hayley Smith

Highest ranking woman in Seal Beach police history sues city alleging discrimination October 7, 2025

The highest ranking female law enforcement officer in Seal Beach is suing the city, alleging that a toxic culture has taken root in the police department where she's been subjected to sexism and harassment for years.

Hannah Fry

West Coast's two monster faults could trigger back-to-back earthquakes, new research suggests October 7, 2025

New research offers the theory that the San Andreas fault and the Cascadia subduction zone could produce devastating back-to-back earthquake disasters.

Rong-Gong Lin II

Police investigate possible 'swatting' call to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach October 7, 2025

Police say they received a 911 for reports of a shooting, but hospital staff said there was no threat.

Nathan Solis

Decades after the 20/20 scandal, the BBB’s structural conflicts remain. It can sting reputations but lacks legal authority. And while Al Capone didn’t found it,…