This installment of the Signal Tribune’s monthly series covers actions taken and statements made by Long Beach’s federal and state representatives in January 2026. 

Elected officials were involved in discussions, debate and legislation surrounding maternal health, ICE and the shooting of Alex Pretti. 

The purpose of this ongoing series is to help the public stay abreast of their elected officials and hold them accountable beyond Election Day.

Federal representatives:

Robert Garcia – U.S. Representative for California’s 42nd Congressional District 

Epstein: Garcia obtained a subpoena for associates of infamous child sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein during a hearing of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

The subpoenas are for billionaire Les Wexner, as well as the executors of Epstein’s estate Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn. One of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Giuffre, said during a deposition that she had been trafficked to Wexner. Other survivors testified Indyke and Kahn were aware of and complicit in Epstein’s crimes.

“These subpoenas for the executors of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, and billionaire benefactor Les Wexner, are an enormous step forward in our investigation to deliver justice for the survivors and truth for the American people,” Garcia said in a public statement. “Oversight democrats know how important it is to follow the money to identify anyone that enabled Epstein’s horrific abuses and illegal activities. We are now one step closer to ending this White House cover-up.”

The motion to approve the subpoenas occurred on Jan. 7, and they were formally issued on Jan. 23.

Congressmember Robert Garcia holds Long Beach District 2 Veterans Commissioner Mike Shaknovich’s son while talking to him and his wife during the “Honoring our Heroes” Memorial Day event on May 28, 2023. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

“Now, the Committee will hear directly from the individuals most closely involved in Epstein’s inner circle,” Garcia said. “We will not stop until we get answers.” 

Garcia also criticized the delay in the deposition of Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, which was supposed to have occurred in August 2025. On Jan. 21, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer rescheduled the deposition for Feb. 9. 

“For months, Ghislaine Maxwell has defied the subpoena ordering her to testify to the Oversight Committee,” Garcia said in a public statement. “After pressure from Oversight Democrats, Chairman Comer has finally decided to call her in to testify. But let’s be clear: the coverup is continuing. She has gotten special treatment from the DOJ for months. Let’s end the coverup now.”

Comer had previously issued another subpoena requiring the U.S. Department of Justice to release all records related to the Epstein case, which has not yet been done. The Epstein Files Transparency Act also requires all the files to be released to the public. Due to the delay in releasing all the files, democrats on the Oversight Committee demanded on Jan. 8 that United States Attorney General Pam Bondi testify before the committee.

“Let’s be clear: Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice are breaking the law every single day the Epstein files are kept from the public,” Garcia said in a public statement. “It is deeply unsettling how the Department continues to disregard both the Epstein Files Transparency Act and the subpoena issued by the Oversight Committee. There is clearly no concern for the law or the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein. Pam Bondi must face Congress for questioning now. We will use every tool at our disposal to fight for justice and transparency.” 

Signs fill up the Long Beach streets as protestors as they show their solidarity to Venezuela on Jan. 10, 2026. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)

Venezuela: Garcia joined other Democrats on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Jan. 9 in demanding access to all information exchanged between Trump and major oil companies such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, and Continental Resources surrounding the Trump administration’s plans to control Venezuela and its oil. Earlier this month, U.S. military forces abducted Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro.

“Donald Trump’s unconstitutional military action in Venezuela, which he said was to seize oil, is dangerous and illegal,” Garcia said in a public statement. “He lied and kept Congress in the dark about what he was doing. If he was working with big oil, the American people must know. He’s deceiving the American people, and we will not rest until we find out what the Administration has been telling these oil executives – before and after the military action in Venezuela.”

FBI Raids Reporter: Garcia joined Rep. Jamie Raskin in sending a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel and Bondi, demanding they provide answers explaining why the FBI raided the home of Washington Post journalist Hannah Natanson. During the raid, the reporter’s phone, two laptops and other work devices were seized by federal agents.

The letter to Patel states “The broad scope of this unjustified raid appears to reflect the Trump Administration’s continuing campaign to punish and dissuade the media and whistleblowers from reporting any damaging facts about the Administration. Before becoming FBI Director, you stated in an interview that Trump should ‘come after people in the media’ and admitted law enforcement would ‘prosecute them for crimes they said we have always been guilty of but never have.’”

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Nanette Díaz Barragán – U.S. representative for California’s 44th Congressional District

Latina Mothers: On Jan. 23, Barragán reintroduced House Resolution 1017, known as the  “Protecting Latina Moms from Extreme Heat and Air Pollution” resolution. The resolution states that Latinas have the highest likelihood of living in areas with significant air pollution.

It also states that Latina mothers are at an increased risk of experiencing stillbirth caused by ozone exposure during pregnancy compared to other ethnicities.

The resolution supports placing air quality monitoring systems in Latin communities, bilingual public alerts for air quality and extreme heat, expanded access to public cooling stations, increasing the number of Latina doulas and more.

“Extreme heat and dirty air are more than environmental challenges — they are public health and equity issues that place Latina mothers at greater risk,” Barragán said in a public statement. “This resolution urges Congress to take meaningful action by expanding clean air investments, ensuring bilingual air quality warnings, strengthening maternal health care, and more. No mother should have to sacrifice her health or her child’s safety simply to get through the day.”

Long Beach resident Milo Nelson screams chants such as “No justice, no peace. No ICE or police” to oncoming traffic on Jan. 10, 2026 at Long Beach City Hall. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)

Alex Pretti Killed: Barragán released a public statement after federal immigration agents fatally shot U.S. citizen and nurse Alex Pretti during a protest in Minnesota. 

“Recording ICE is not a crime. And does not justify being killed. DHS agents have murdered a man on the streets in Minnesota. Donald Trump and DHS agents are making our country more dangerous, terrorizing and killing Americans on the street. It needs to stop and federal agents need to be held accountable. Get these thugs out of Minnesota.”

Kristi Noem: Barragán also called for the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, to be removed from her position:

“It’s simple: Kristi Noem needs to resign or be fired. If not, we’ll work to impeach her. Under her failed leadership, DHS has terrorized communities, shot and killed Americans and immigrants in detention. Instead of taking responsibility, Noem has rushed to blame the victim. She must be held accountable.”

State representatives

Lena Gonzalez – California State Senator for the 33rd District

No Kings Act: The California State Senate passed Senate Bill 747, coauthored by Gonzalez, on Jan. 27. Known as the “No Kings Act,” this legislation gives individuals the right to sue a federal, state or local officer who infringes on their constitutional rights.

“The Senate passed the No Kings Act to protect the constitutional rights of Californians in the face of this federal administration’s escalating, lawless and violent tactics,” Gonzalez said. “With this new bill, Californians will have a legal pathway in court to defend their constitutional rights and hold federal agents who violate their rights accountable, because no one, not even the federal government, is above the law.”

Outside the Hilton hotel by Ocean Boulevard and Golden Avenue, protestors yell outside the lobby, accusing the hotel of housing federal agents. Some with signs in hand went inside and yelled expletives on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (Justin Enriquez | Signal Tribune)

ICE statement: Gonzalez released the following statement in regards to continued ICE raids across the state and nation:

“At a time of extreme fear and uncertainty, as ICE continues to terrorize and tear families apart, we must be absolutely clear that local resources will not be used to assist these egregious federal immigration enforcement operations. Our communities are facing some of the most brazen attacks we’ve ever seen, carried out by masked, unidentified agents who are emboldened by dangerous claims of total immunity while they use violent, lawless tactics. This is the reality that our residents in the City of Bell across the state are living. As state and local leaders, we have a duty  —  every single day  — to protect our communities, defend their rights, and stand firmly against the horrible injustices we are seeing.”

Twitter Taken Down: Gonzalez’s Twitter account appears to no longer be functioning. The Signal Tribune has reached out to Gonzalez’s office for further information, and has not heard back as of print time on Thursday.

Josh Lowenthal –  California Assemblymember for the 69th District

LBCC praise: On Jan. 26, representatives from Long Beach City College visited the state capitol and were praised by Lowenthal during a floor session.

Lowenthal said LBCC is “the best community college in the state of California” and “truly a pillar in our community.”

ICE criticism: Earlier this week, Lowenthal released the following statement in regards to the actions of federal immigration agents:

“ICE killings of American citizens, unmarked detentions, and fear-based enforcement are a betrayal of the rule of law,” Lowenthal said in a public statement. “This is not public safety — it’s government overreach without accountability. If elected officials won’t step in to stop it, constituents must step up at the ballot box.”

Some attendees of the Long Beach anti ICE rally on Jan. 8, 2026 carry posters displaying their support for Renee Nicole Good, who died after being shot three times by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, 2026. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)

Alex Pretti: Lowenthal addressed the state legislator and led a moment of silence in honor of Pretti on Tuesday.

“Over the weekend we were shocked and saddened to learn that federal immigration agents in Minnesota killed Alex Pretti, a Veterans Affairs hospital ICU nurse. Our hearts are with his family, loved ones and the community,” Lowenthal said. “Regardless of how one feels about our immigration policy and its enforcement, we can all agree on how much we love and care for our nurses.”

Judge and politician privacy: On Jan. 13, Lowenthal addressed the Assembly Standing Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection in regards to his proposed legislation Assembly Bill 883. The bill would require data brokers to delete personal information gathered from elected officials and judges. If data brokers fail to comply, under the bill, they can be sued.

“Once this information about an individual is shared or collected, it can be sold and is often sold and shared amongst hundreds of data brokers, leaving public facing officials extremely vulnerable to danger,” Lowenthal said to the committee. “I’m sure that all of us here today have been forced to confront that ugly truth. […] As evolving technology has greatly expanded the ability for information to proliferate across the Internet with increasing accuracy, it is absolutely critical that we give our elected and appointed officials who have answered the calling to serve their communities the tools they need to keep themselves and their families safe.”