Page 60 - AAGLA-JUNE 2022

Feature Story
California’s “First Partner” Jennifer Siebel Newsom Receives Corporate Donations
An investigation by the Sacramento Bee found Governor Newsom’s wife’s nonprofit, an organization focusing on gender equity in film, has received $800,000 in donations from companies involved in lobbying the state. These companies, which have also donated to the Governor’s political activities, include PG&E, Kaiser Permanente, AT&T, and Comcast. The Governor denies the donations to his wife’s nonprofit have any inappropriate influence on his decisions, stating in response to reporters’ questions, “There’s no correlation, period, full stop. Absolutely none.”
Top Union Leader Charged with Tax Fraud, Embezzlement, Perjury and Failure to Pay Taxes
The executive director of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU_, the state’s largest union and an advocate of higher taxes, resigned after being charged with numerous crimes including failure to pay her own taxes. Under this official’s tenure, the union donated more than $6 million to Gavin Newsom’s anti-Recall campaign.
State Employment Chief Says She Doesn’t Know Why Unemployment is High
California’s unemployment rate soared to historic highs as strict COVID-19 rules combined with the state’s usual high tax and anti-business political stance. However, when Assemblyman Kevin Kiley questioned the Director of the Employment Development Department on why unemployment was so high she was absolutely baffled, and said she would have a “research team” look into it.
Regular Californians Told to “Stay Home Save Lives” While Politicians Enjoy Junkets
Although many Californians continued to live under strict COVID-19 rules, legislators themselves enjoyed trips to Pebble Beach, Australia, Scotland, Portland and Maui. Many of these trips were paid for by lobbyists with important business before the Legislature. These all-expenses-paid trips give lobbyists an opportunity to discuss their issues
while they wine and dine politicians, giving them an additional level of access not enjoyed by regular constituents.
State Employees Embezzle $2.7 Million Intended for AIDS Patients
State employees conspired to bilk the California Office of AIDS of $2.7 million through a scheme where fake invoices were submitted on behalf of a company that didn’t actually exist. The funds embezzled were used to fund travel, cruises, parties and trips to sporting events. The fraud was first discovered when an official asked for more information on the fake company, but not until millions had already been stolen. Government watchdogs pointed to the situation as an example of why more safeguards are needed to ensure taxpayer funds are spent appropriately.
Congressman’s Son Accepted to Stanford University Following $50,000 Donation
Democrat Representative, Ted Lieu, donated $50,000 of campaign funds to Stanford University before his son was accepted, Federal Election Commission reports have revealed. The contributions were first exposed by an anonymous Twitter account, which was subsequently banned by the social media giant.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Charged with Funneling Lucrative Contracts to the University of Southern California in Exchange for a Professorship and Scholarship for Disgraced Son
A federal grand jury indicted South Los Angeles City Councilmember, Mark Ridley-Thomas, on charges of funneling millions of dollars of contracts to the University of Southern California in exchange for an admission with a full scholarship and a paid professorship for his son. His son, Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, is himself no stranger to scandal. Sebastian Ridley-Thomas was a State Assemblymember embroiled in a “#metoo” scandal before resigning his position with the Assembly to become a professor, despite lacking a graduate degree.
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