The Irvine City Council Jan. 24 failed to pass a motion to launch an independent investigation after political consultant Melahat Rafiei recently admitted engaging in a bribery scheme in the city in 2018.
In an FBI corruption probe, Rafiei, 45, also agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of attempted wire fraud against a cannabis dispensary seeking her services, according to the Department of Justice. She founded Progressive Solutions Consulting, a Long Beach-based consulting firm where she worked with cannabis industry clients and local politicians.
