Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff are caught up in scandal over their elite Hillcrest Country

The reputation of one of California‘s most illustrious country clubs is now at the center of a furious race storm. 

Ultra-elite Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles – where Kamala Harris‘ husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, is a member – has been branded a ‘racist aristocracy’ with ‘depraved standards’ in a blockbuster lawsuit filed in LA against the club and its leaders.

According to the no holds barred filing on Monday afternoon, ‘Perhaps no institution embodies the racial disparities and resistance to change more starkly than the infamous Hillcrest Country Club.

‘While every-day Angelenos have advocated for progress and equality, Hillcrest has itself maintained its core principle of exclusion, under the pretext of exclusivity.’

The club – known for having mostly white Jewish members, including Emhoff – has also been accused of nepotism and disregarding reports of sexual assault and drug abuse. 

The suit was filed by attorney Alexander Winnick on behalf of his brother Matthew Winnick, 42, who, is ‘party to a biracial marriage, where Plaintiff’s wife and children have Hispanic heritage.’

Matthew Winnick, son of the late billionaire telecommunications tycoon Gar Winnick,  claims the exclusive club and it’s leaders retaliated against him when he complained about discriminatory behavior.

According to the suit, the club opened in 1920 originally as a country club ‘for the Jewish community’ and claims that for 67 years it ‘refused admission to women and severely limited admission to non-Jewish members.’

Hollywood legends who have been members of Hillcrest, include Milton Berle, Jack Benny, Danny Kaye, the Marx Brothers, George Burns and Al Jolson.

Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton have been pictured on the green of the elite club.   

The lawsuit begins with a quote from Vice President Harris, ‘In times like this, silence is complicity.’

In January, Harris and Emhoff, both 59, told the Los Angeles Times that Hillcrest is one of their favorite places in the city.

But the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, tells darker story.

‘Symbolizing a 150-acre plantation in the heart of Los Angeles, Hillcrest’s 585 members are shielded from the true racial makeup of the City through its racist policies enforced by its bigoted and selfish leadership,’ the suit states.  

‘The prejudicial impact of Hillcrest’s makeup on the business, professional and employment opportunities of minorities cannot be ignored or minimized.

‘Hillcrest claims to be founded on the principles of diversity and generosity. It boasts to the world that it upholds the highest principles of inclusivity, that the Club is intent on giving back to its community.

‘In reality, Hillcrest is overwhelmingly white, pays an embarrassingly low property tax (approximately $250,000 annually), and has no desire or incentive to change. Hillcrest is a racist aristocracy, subsidized by the City to the tune of nearly seventy (70) million dollars per year.’

The suit claims the club has maintained a ‘plantation-like essence’ by employing a mostly Hispanic staff who cater to predominantly white members. 

‘It scoffs not only at laws barring discrimination; it also disregards reports of sexual assault and drug abuse. In fact, Hillcrest promotes such unworthy (but racially acceptable) people who so engage and punishes those who complain.

‘Hillcrest’s leadership reflects the Club’s depraved standards.’

According to the suit, club President Jason Kaplan has been accused of sexual assault and ‘making racist remarks in incidents that the Club has refused to investigate.’

In one instance in March 2023, Winnick claims that during a birthday party at the club, ‘Jason Kaplan, singling Plaintiff out, yelled ‘CALLATE’ across the table at Plaintiff.’

‘Callate’ is Spanish for ‘shut up’.  

‘Plaintiff was alarmed, confused, embarrassed, and hurt by Jason Kaplan’s rude interruption,’ the suit states. ‘Plaintiff was later approached by Jason Kaplan, whereby Plaintiff expressed that he was offended.

‘Kaplan was displeased with Plaintiff questioning him, telling him: ‘You want to mess with me?’

Film producer Brad Fuller, Chair of the Hillcrest’s Membership Committee, ‘has built his career on creating pornographic and violent films that glorify murder and reinforce harmful stereotypes,’ the lawsuit claims.

And, according to the lawsuit,  the club’s former President, Michael Flesch, is ‘a beneficiary of nepotism and ‘has used his position to secure admission for his son, Warren Flesch, an addict who, by his own words, nearly murdered a homeless man during a cocaine and heroin infused psychotic meltdown.’

Other Hillcrest leaders ‘have enabled this decadence to continue unimpeded.

‘Hillcrest has always been a discriminatory club, and will continue to be a discriminatory club so long as it continues to indulge it’s leadership’s racial tendencies.

‘It’s leaders have and will continue to promote their own undeserving children for membership at the expense of racially-mixed families and the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion.

‘This Complaint is not merely a legal action; it is a moral reckoning. It demands a transformative response, challenging the Club to face its discriminatory practices head on.’

Plaintiff Winnick claims his application to become a member was unfairly rejected by club leaders.

According to the suit, Winnick was an eligible and suitable candidate because he ‘satisfied Hillcrest’s three pillars for membership: charitable giving, charitable time, and social acceptability.’

Winnick, and his attorney brother, is the son of billionaire investor Gary Winnick who passed away in November last year age 76 at his mansion in Bel-Air, California. The property was listed for sale last June for $250 million.

Matthew Winnick’s sensational suit adds that he was promised priority as he is the child of an existing member and had played at the club as an ‘intermediate’ member, making payments totaling over $25,000.

Hillcrest ‘breached it’s promise’ to Winnick when it ‘terminated’ his intermediate membership.

The suit adds: ‘Plaintiff and Hillcrest were in an economic relationship that probably would have resulted in an economic benefit to Plaintiff.

‘A Hillcrest membership is transferable and has significant monetary value. In addition, being a member of Hillcrest affords a person social standing, access, and a venue to host guests in furtherance of a person’s business.’

Winnick claims that he was ‘misled’ by the club that failed to disclose that they were reserving membership spots for leadership’s their own children, ‘regardless of their worthiness and satisfaction of the membership requirements.’

‘Defendants misled Plaintiff as to the social acceptability requirement of the Club, granting and maintaining the membership of a pornographer, a sexual deviant, philanderers, liars, and others with low moral compasses,’ the suit states. 

Winnick is seeking unspecified monetary damages.

Hillcrest’s attorney, Lyne Richardson from Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. tells DailyMail.com: ‘The lawsuit lacks substance, evidence, or facts and makes incendiary statements that lack legitimacy. 

‘Hillcrest Country Club will vigorously defend against this lawsuit. 

‘It hasn’t been determined who will be representing the Board members.’