Bonta's Campaign Spends $468,228 on Legal Fees Amid Federal Bribery Probe

Sacramento, CA – California Attorney General Rob Bonta's reelection campaign has spent nearly half a million dollars on legal services from a private law firm in connection with an ongoing federal bribery investigation in Oakland. Campaign finance records reveal five payments totaling $468,228 were made to the law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, just two days before Bonta announced in February that he would not seek the governorship but would run for reelection as Attorney General.

The payments, listed as "professional services (legal, accounting)," were confirmed by Bonta's senior advisor, Dan Newman, to be for legal assistance in the East Bay bribery investigation. This probe involves former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the politically influential Duong family, who own the recycling company Cal Waste Solutions. "There are of course ongoing legal proceedings in the East Bay in which several people were charged with serious crimes," Newman stated, adding, "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."

While Bonta has not been charged in the investigation, he returned $155,000 in campaign donations from the Duong family following the public disclosure of the probe. The use of campaign funds for these legal fees has raised questions, particularly since it was not publicly disclosed by Bonta prior to the payments. It remains unclear how much of the expenditure is for Bonta's personal legal representation versus assisting the investigation.

The federal investigation has led to bribery charges against former Mayor Thao, her partner Andre Jones, and David and Andy Duong of Cal Waste Solutions. Prosecutors allege a scheme involving cash payments and promises of "no-show jobs" in exchange for favorable city actions regarding the Duongs' business interests. The Duong family has a long history of significant political donations across California.

Ethics experts have noted that while using campaign funds for legal defense related to official duties can be permissible, transparency is crucial. Critics often question whether such expenditures truly serve campaign purposes or primarily benefit the individual. The revelation also comes amid reports that Bonta is reconsidering a potential run for governor, adding another layer of political scrutiny to the campaign finance decisions.