California Lawmaker Seeks Ethics Probe Following Allegations of Bribery in Plea Agreement
A partially redacted plea deal is causing a stir at the state Capitol, as noted by an assemblyman.
Republican Assemblyman Bill Essayli from California filed an ethics complaint on December 12, urging the Legislature to look into possible violations of conduct standards related to a federal bribery plea agreement that was unsealed earlier this month.
“While the plea agreement does not explicitly name the legislator, the information available is enough to initiate an immediate investigation by the Assembly and Senate Ethics Committees to identify the individual described in the plea agreement and to consider suitable disciplinary measures.”
In the alleged scheme, an individual identified as Person 19 would be contracted as a consultant for $40,000, while Person 20 would take $200,000.
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Although a contract was supposedly signed, the funds were never transferred.
The plea agreement indicates that Person 20 solicited $15,000 from Tafoya on two occasions: once in 2017 and again after winning a primary in June 2018.
“From 2017 until November 2018, Person 20 was campaigning for a state-elected position. To raise campaign funds, Person 20 requested that the defendant provide him/her with $15,000 in cash on two separate occasions, which could then be funneled to others contributing to his/her campaign,” the plea document states.
The city attorney allegedly handed over the bribes in cash taken from his bank, fearing that Person 20 might remove him from his position and believing that if elected, this individual would offer him more opportunities, according to the plea agreement.
Person 20 purportedly intended to utilize the funds to create the impression of community support for their campaign.
Essayli expressed, “I’m not necessarily surprised by the allegations; I’m more shocked that there haven’t been further criminal investigations.” He noted that “corruption is rampant in our state capital.”
He urged increased scrutiny of state officials and highlighted the lack of oversight concerning cannabis permitting practices amidst an influx of cash in the industry, which he suggested has spurred political misconduct at local levels.
The Legislative Ethics Committees of the Senate and Assembly are responsible for addressing all complaints, investigating potential violations of conduct rules, and recommending disciplinary measures, if warranted.
Assemblyman Bill Essayli speaks on the Assembly floor at the Capitol in Sacramento, California, on August 31, 2024. Travis Gillmore/The Epoch Times
“It is unacceptable for legislators to exploit their positions for financial gain while ordinary Californians struggle to get by,” Essayli asserted. “We require substantial reforms and accountability from our state-elected representatives.”
Prolonged Investigation
The public official implicated in the investigation reportedly instructed city attorney Tafoya to adhere to a scheme proposed by then-Baldwin Park City Council member Ricardo Pacheco.
Since the enactment of Proposition 64 in 2016, which legalized recreational cannabis, businesses have been vying for licensing opportunities throughout the state.
The two men pleaded not guilty following their arrest in September 2023, facing charges of one count each of bribery and conspiracy, as well as eight counts of wire fraud.
