The defense attorney for Jonathan Rinderknecht, who was charged by federal authorities with starting the fatal Palisades Fire that scorched more than 23,000 acres in Los Angeles County in January, has described the allegations as "preposterous.”

“We are in receipt of the indictment and look forward to vigorously defending Mr. Rinderknecht against these charges,” defense attorney Steve Haney said in a press release. “There were blatant failures by governmental agencies that were intervening causes between the Lachman and the Palisades Fires. To scapegoat Jonathan Rinderknecht and attempt to hold him criminally liable for the failure of others is preposterous.”

Haney, known for his high-profile federal defense work, suggested the government’s narrative oversimplifies the chain of eve

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