Overview
- Bonta’s 2026 reelection committee paid about $468,000 to Wilson Sonsini for counsel while he was questioned by federal investigators, according to state filings.
- His political consultant says investigators initially viewed him as a possible victim, his role was to provide information, and his involvement concluded in 2024.
- Legal experts say he must demonstrate a clear campaign nexus for the expenses, and the U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment on the campaign’s characterizations.
- After the investigation became public, Bonta returned roughly $155,000 in donations linked to the Duong family, longtime East Bay political contributors.
- The federal probe led to January indictments of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and David and Andy Duong, who have pleaded not guilty, and Bonta told KQED he was not a target and denied a claim of any compromising video.