Official announcement from the Oakland City Government or major news outlets

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Faces Recall Amid FBI Raid, Evidence Seized on Maiden Lane

Jun 21, 2024, 05:49 AM

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is facing significant political and legal challenges following an FBI raid on her home on Maiden Lane. The four-hour raid, which took place early Thursday morning, was part of a larger investigation involving three other properties connected to the Duong family, who own California Waste Solutions. The Duong family has been under investigation for years for alleged political money laundering and has strong ties to various political figures, including Thao. The FBI, IRS, and U.S. Postal Service inspectors were involved in the operation and emerged with boxes of evidence. Thao has retained former San Francisco prosecutor Tony Brass as her attorney, who insists that the mayor is fully cooperating with the investigation and has nothing to hide. The Oakland chapter of the NAACP and several local residents are calling for Thao's resignation. The raid has intensified calls for her recall, which is already scheduled for November. Thao's former Chief of Staff has also been interviewed by the FBI. Thao has not issued a public statement since the raid, and her political future remains uncertain.