LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho Shares His Thoughts After Federal Investigation
FBI Investigation Surrounds LAUSD Superintendent Carvalho
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Albert Carvalho has publicly denied any wrongdoing following a recent FBI investigation that led to his administrative leave. The FBI conducted raids at his home and office last month, but has not disclosed the specific nature of its inquiry.
In a statement released through a spokesperson on Tuesday, Carvalho expressed confidence that evidence will ultimately prove he acted appropriately in the best interests of students. “Mr. Carvalho remains confident that the evidence will ultimately demonstrate that he acted appropriately and in the best interests of students. We hope the School Board reinstates him promptly to his position as Superintendent,” the statement read.
In light of the investigation, the LAUSD Board of Education has unanimously voted to place Carvalho on paid administrative leave. Andres Chair, a veteran educator, has been appointed as the interim acting superintendent during this period.
Carvalho’s legal team, Holland & Knight LLP, expressed their commitment to cooperating fully with law enforcement to ensure that “the full facts can be reviewed in their entirety.” The statement further affirmed that Carvalho respects the rule of law and has always acted within legal boundaries. “While the government’s investigation remains ongoing, no evidence has been presented by prosecutors supporting any allegation that Mr. Carvalho violated federal law,” it stated.
Although the FBI has not confirmed details about the nature of their investigation, they executed search warrants at both Carvalho’s office near LAUSD headquarters and his residences in San Pedro and Miami, Florida.
In a related development, court records indicate that federal prosecutors are pursuing a separate fraud case against Joanna Smith-Griffin, the CEO of the now-defunct education technology company AllHere. This company previously secured a $6 million contract with LAUSD to create an AI-powered chatbot called "Ed," designed to assist students and parents with tasks like tracking grades and accessing educational resources.
The contract fell through, and Smith-Griffin has been charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, and identity theft. Reports indicate that LAUSD had already paid AllHere $3 million in advance before the AI deal collapsed. Significantly, Carvalho is not mentioned as a subject in the investigation involving Smith-Griffin.
