Anaheim City Council members, meeting for the first time Tuesday night since news of a federal investigation into Mayor Harry Sidhu broke, used words such as “devastating” and “shocking” to describe the allegations.

One councilman called for Sidhu’s resignation and another asked for a series of investigations.

“I can’t recall such a dark day as yesterday in Anaheim’s history,” Councilman Avelino Valencia said of Monday’s reveal that Sidhu is under federal investigation in connection with the city’s pending sale of Angel Stadium to Angels owner Arte Moreno’s business partnership. “The news that our city mayor is under FBI investigation puts a cloud over our city.”

Anahiem councilmember Avelino Valencia calls for Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu to resign in Anaheim on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 during the first council meeting after it was announced that Mayor Sidhu is under federal investigation in connection with the city’s sale of Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

An affidavit filed in federal court May 12 says authorities are investigating whether Sidhu “shared privileged and confidential information with the Angels during stadium sale negotiations, actively concealed same from a Grand Jury inquiry, and expects to receive campaign contributions as a result.” He has not been charged; the affidavit was filed in support of a request for search warrants that were executed on Thursday.

Valencia called for Sidhu’s resignation.

Councilman Stephen Faessel also called the evidence offered in the affidavit released this week “pretty damning.”

Council members choose during Tuesday’s council meeting to move up their period for making comments and announcements to the beginning portion of the night so they could speak and then allow the several community members present to react during the usual public comment time.

Councilwoman Gloria Sahagun Ma’ae said she felt a feeling of betrayal. “It hit at the core.”

Councilman Jose Diaz said: “It broke my heart. I’m in disbelief.”

Also announced Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office were charges against former Anaheim Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Ament of lying about his assets when purchasing a second home.

The affidavit in support of the charges against Ament also allege he acted as a “ring leader,” along with an unnamed political consultant, of “a specific, covert group of individuals that wielded significant influence over the inner workings of Anaheim’s government.”

Councilman Jose F. Moreno, who has fought against rushing the stadium deal and voted against it, asked for the city attorney to launch an independent investigation, by an outside firm, to look into the extent staff might have been involved in the alleged actions.

Then choking up and saying “this hurts,” he continued: “To our Anaheim staff, please know that for me this is not an indictment of you and your integrity. Rather, I find this necessary to assure that your names and reputations are not unnecessarily smeared.”

Moreno also asked city administrators to immediately cut all financial ties to the Chamber of Commerce and its related Anaheim First initiative. No council action was taken on any of Moreno’s requests.

He also said he plans to bring back an ordinance he earlier proposed related to campaign finances “to mitigate the undue influence of money in the governance of our city.”

Anahiem residents cheer after councilmember Avelino Valencia called for Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu to resign in Anaheim on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 during the first council meeting after it was announced that Mayor Sidhu is under federal investigation in connection with the city’s sale of Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Councilman Trevor O’Neil said that because of the “surprising, concerning information” made public this week, he wanted to see any further work on the stadium plan be placed on pause for now. The City Council voted to put a discussion of the issue on its next agenda.

Several residents commenting after said they didn’t want to see a pause but a start-over, with the stadium deal killed.

Staff Writer Alicia Robinson contributed to this report.

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