Article

2024-06-21 Government Corruption

REPORT: FBI Raids Democratic Oakland Mayor's Home

[DC] FBI agents conducted a raid on the home of Oakland, California, Mayor Sheng Thao on Thursday morning, multiple outlets reported.

Federal authorities executed warrants at the residence of the mayor in the city’s Lincoln Highlands area at approximately 5:30 a.m., according to CBS News Bay Area.

The FBI released a statement to CBS saying it was "unable to provide additional information at this time."

The raid "also involves the IRS and U.S. Postal service," a source told ABC News’ Dan Noyes.

Agents were still on the scene at about 9:45 a.m, CBS News Bay Area reported. A San Francisco FBI spokesperson indicated that the agency is carrying out "court authorized law enforcement" at Thao’s home, according to KRON4. Multiple FBI agents were reportedly seen departing the residence carrying boxes and bags around 10:07 a.m.

The mayor is currently the target of a recall effort led by residents who have been concerned about heightened crime rates in the city. The group leading the recall argues that crime has increased after Thao dismantled the city’s police department. "’Lives have been lost, property destroyed, businesses have shut down, and fear and collective trauma are daily occurrences for Oaklanders. We, the concerned citizens, therefore, demand your recall for the sake of our city’s future,’" the group said in a statement.

The FBI and Mayor’s office have not yet responded to requests for comment.

Posted by Frank G 2024-06-21 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11134 views ] Top
File under: Commies

#1 ...No doubt that this had been planned for a while, but it's interesting to me that it happened just a day or so after Her Honor got tagged for a recall election.

It's hard to avoid the thought - and just a thought - that DOJ might have been watching to see which way the wind blew before going in.

Mike

Posted by MikeKozlowski 2024-06-21 08:17|| 2024-06-21 08:17|| Front Page Top

#2 Check didn't clear?

Posted by Procopius2k 2024-06-21 08:22|| 2024-06-21 08:22|| Front Page Top

#3 Via Hot Air:
After several hours, agents left the house carrying boxes full of evidence. But it turns out Thao's house wasn't the only one in the area that was raided today. Three other locations were connected to a company called California Waste Solutions, which is the largest recycling company in Northern California.

Home of Mayor Sheng Thao on Maiden Lane in the Oakland Hills
California Waste Solutions at the Embarcadero
Home of California Waste Solutions' Andy Duong on View Crest Court
Home of California Waste Solutions' David and Linda Duong on Skyline Blvd

So what is all of this about? Officially no one will say but some sources appear to be leaking:

An FBI spokesperson told KRON4, “The FBI is conducting court authorized law enforcement activity on Maiden Lane. We are unable to provide additional information at this time.” Jones eventually left the house and declined to talk to reporters.

The raid was related to possible campaign finance violations, a law enforcement source told KRON4.

The local ABC affiliate got a different hint:

But the best suggestion what this might be about (that I've seen) comes from the East Bay Times:

A few miles away, law enforcement officials wearing police vests and U.S. Postal Insp ection uniforms were seen outside a home on the 12500 block of Skyline Boulevard, a property tied to David Duong. One official there declined to comment.

The Duongs have been the subject of an investigation by the city’s Public Ethics Commission since 2020 over allegations they used “straw donors,” or obscure third-party entities, to funnel money to City Council candidates in past elections.

Thao, a first-term council member at the time, was alleged to have received money through the alleged straw-donor scheme, along with current council members Rebecca Kaplan and Dan Kalb, plus former councilmembers Larry Reid and Lynette Gibson McElhaney.

So maybe part of this goes back several years to the time before Thao became mayor. Also, David Duong, whose house was also raided today, is not only the CEO of California Waste Solutions, he's also chairman of the Vietnamese American Business Association. Last year, that group was involved in an 11-day trade delegation to Vietnam which was led by Mayor Thao. So there are multiple points of connection here but the gist seems to be that Thao may have received funds from the either the company or the association run by the David Duong.

Posted by Frank G 2024-06-21 10:04|| 2024-06-21 10:04|| Front Page Top

#4 Long story short, these people were involved in a conspiracy to acquire control of one of the worst shithole blue urban enclaves in America.

"Better to rule in Hell...."

Posted by M. Murcek 2024-06-21 10:09|| 2024-06-21 10:09|| Front Page Top

#5 over allegations they used “straw donors,”

...didn't set that up as well as Soros? Just don't like local innovation to compete with the big guys?

Posted by Procopius2k 2024-06-21 10:41|| 2024-06-21 10:41|| Front Page Top

#6 One thing we can rule out in regards to Oakland city politics: progress

Posted by Super Hose 2024-06-21 12:35|| 2024-06-21 12:35|| Front Page Top

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