Two Orange County congressional candidates lately scrubbed their marketing campaign web sites of endorsements from Supervisor Andrew Do, who’s facing mounting calls to step down amid allegations the nonprofit he directed millions of dollars in COVID relief funds to as a substitute embezzled the funds meant for feeding the aged.
Do’s title was listed on the marketing campaign web site for Rep. Michelle Metal, R-Seal Seashore, as recently as mid-July as considered one of a number of native leaders who had endorsed her marketing campaign, however as of Tuesday, Aug. 27, his name is no longer on that list.
Do was additionally listed on the marketing campaign web site of Rep. Younger Kim, R-Anaheim Hills, as recently as July 16, however his name is no longer to be found on the endorsements section of her website.
“Public officers should be held accountable for his or her actions, however like some other American are entitled to due strategy of the legislation,” Lance Trover, a spokesperson for Metal’s marketing campaign, mentioned about why Do was eliminated.
Kim’s marketing campaign didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Each Kim and Metal, who seem like placing a long way between themselves and Do, are vying for his or her third congressional phrases in districts that nationwide Democrats hope to flip in November. California’s fortieth congressional district and forty fifth congressional district are each a part of the 33 Republican-held districts across the country the Democratic Congressional Marketing campaign Committee has recognized as “crucial battlegrounds.”
Metal served alongside Do on the Board of Supervisors for a number of years till she was elected to Congress in 2020 to symbolize what was then California’s forty eighth congressional district. Do additionally endorsed her then.
Trover, Metal’s spokesperson, declined to reply additional questions on Do, together with if Metal had lately been involved with him.
Kim, who was additionally first elected to Congress in 2020, received Do’s endorsement then as properly.
Do directed thousands and thousands of {dollars} from his district’s discretionary fund to the nonprofit, Viet America Society, the place his daughter Rhiannon Do labored on the time. VAS and a few of its leaders are on the heart of a lawsuit filed by the county accusing the organization of embezzling millions in COVID relief funds meant to feed the aged in the course of the pandemic, as a substitute utilizing the cash to purchase houses and make different lavish purchases. Supervisor Do was not talked about by title within the lawsuit.
Final week, Do’s home and law office were raided by federal agents, in addition to the houses of his daughter and VAS president Peter Pham. And he’s going through calls from fellow OC Supervisors Katrina Foley and Vicente Sarmiento to resign from his elected place.
Scott Baugh, who’s operating for California’s forty seventh congressional district, has by no means been endorsed by Do, mentioned his marketing campaign spokesperson, Nic Gerard. However Baugh, a former GOP Assemblymember and chair of the county Republican Get together, has backed Do previously.
In a 2015 campaign mailer advertising Do’s candidacy in a special election for a board seat, Baugh, who was then serving as chair of the OC GOP mentioned of Do: “Andrew Do is the one candidate we belief and the one one endorsed by the Orange County Republican Get together and he wants each considered one of our votes.”
When requested if he stands by that assertion, Baugh mentioned he “strongly condemns the misuse of COVID aid {dollars}, or of any taxpayer {dollars}.”
“The allegations surrounding Supervisor Do and others are critical and are apparently below investigation,” Baugh mentioned. “If the allegations are discovered to be true, we count on the total penalties to be served below the rule of legislation.”
Employees writers Future Torres and Tony Saavedra contributed to this report.
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