Former LA Councilman Bernard Parks has scathing words for indicted Mark Ridley-Thomas

Former Los Angeles City Councilman and LAPD Chief Bernard Parks had scathing words for Mark Ridley-Thomas.

On Thursday, Parks released a six-page statement on the federal indictment against Ridley-Thomas and said, in part, "I am not surprised. No one should be surprised."

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Ridley-Thomas pleaded not guilty this week to federal corruption charges. The LA city councilman is accused of accepting bribes while at his previous job, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. 

Ridley-Thomas beat out Parks for that seat.

Get your top stories delivered daily! Sign up for FOX 11’s Fast 5 newsletter. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.

Park's wrote, in part: 

"In 2008 as Ridley-Thomas and I prepared to face each other... our office had been approached by a member for the FBI seeking information on him.

My representative told the Ridley-Thomas staffer that, judging by the questions the FBI was asking- it was best to relay the information to Ridley-Thomas in hopes that he would take appropriate action to mitigate the potential embarrassment that many of his constituents feel now.

It became apparent to our campaign that Ridley-Thomas had no intention of changing his behavior.

In order to keep from interfering in whatever investigation was underway, my staff and I remained quiet about this matter until now."

Parks declined an interview, with a spokesman saying the statement speaks for itself.

Ridley-Thomas has been suspended by the LA City Council after he pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal bribery and conspiracy charges, stemming from his time on the LA County Board of Supervisors. Ridley-Thomas is accused of supporting millions of dollars in contracts for USC  in exchange for a full scholarship and paid professorship for his son.

Ridley-Thomas maintains he will be fully exonerated.

Below is a full statement issued by Parks:

Tune in to FOX 11 Los Angeles for the latest Southern California news.