California Attorney General Rob Bonta faces questions about his campaign account spending large sums of money on legal services in connection to a bribery investigation into former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao.
KCRA reported that Bonta’s campaign account spent close to $500,000 through five separate payments to law firm Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati in February.
Driving the news: The payments were for legal help in the bribery investigation into Sheng Thao and the Duong family, a Bonta advisor told KCRA.
- Bonta had received $155,000 in campaign contributions from the Duong family, which he returned after the investigation revealed that the Duong family were indicted on federal bribery charges.
- Bonta’s campaign account, which had around $6.2 million in October, paid the law firm a total of $468,228.
- Federal prosecutors never charged Bonta with a crime in relation to the Duong family investigation.
What they’re saying: “There are of course ongoing legal proceedings in the East Bay in which several people were charged with serious crimes,” Bonta Senior Advisor Dan Newman told KCRA. “The AG wants to ensure that anyone who committed a crime is held accountable, so he engaged outside legal counsel to help his law enforcement partners pursue justice.”
What we’re watching: While Bonta announced in February that he will not join the crowded race for California Governor and will instead run for reelection as Attorney General, he is reportedly reconsidering his options.
- KCRA reported Bonta has been discussing a potential run in recent weeks with consultants and allies despite his earlier decision to stay out of the race. Notably, Lt Gov. Eleni Kounalakis has left the race since Bonta’s initial announcement, and Sen. Alex Padilla said he will not run.
