List of California political scandals

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (December 2023)

This article provides a list of political scandals which occurred in the State of California. It is organized in reverse chronological order from most recent to oldest.

Politician is defined as "a person who is professionally involved in politics", and includes not only those elected to office, their staffs and appointees, but also those who routinely work in politics such as pollsters. Major officials of political parties and their staffs, as well as those elected by their party to be candidates are also included. Local politicians, mayors, sheriffs, and county officials should not be included.

Scandal is defined as "loss of, or damage to, reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety". Breaking the law is always considered a scandal. The finding of a public court is the sole method used to determine a violation of law, but it is not the sole method of determining a scandal.

Please note that all people are considered innocent until proven guilty. Allegations of misconduct do not imply guilt nor do admissions of guilt in the absence of a conviction. Investigations that end without a determination do not imply innocence.

Breaches of ethics, unproven crimes or cover-ups may or may not result in inclusion depending on the amount of publicity generated, and the seriousness of the crime, if any. Notoriety and notability are a major determinant of a scandal. Politicians who resign, quit, flee, or commit suicide while being investigated or threatened with investigation may also be included.

Different scandals on different dates may result in multiple listings.

The list does not include crimes that occur outside the politician's tenure (such as before or after his term in office) unless they specifically stem from acts made while in office, such as bribery, and discovered later.

Given the political nature of legislatures where the leading party has determining power, politicians who are Rebuked, Denounced, Censured, Admonished, Condemned, Suspended, Reprimanded, Found in Contempt, Found to have Acted Improperly, or of using Poor Judgment are not included unless the scandal is exceptional or leads to further action such as expulsion, conviction or resignation. Executive pardons may or may not be mentioned, but do not erase the scandal. The verdict and legal proceedings are not affected by pardons, but may affect the sentence.

State of California[edit]

• Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D) State Senator from Los Angeles in the 54th District, was the subject of two sexual harassment complaints. An outside investigation concluded he had continued an unwelcome pursuit of one of his staff. When revealed, he resigned. (2019)^[1]

• Eric C. Bauman (D) Chairman of the California Democratic Party, was accused of sexual harassment by a male staff member and then threatening to retaliate if exposed. Bauman resigned. (2018)^[2][3]

• Tony Mendoza (politician) (D) State Senator from Sacremento, was accused of inviting young female staff to his residence for sex. He resigned just before a vote to expel him. (2018)^[4][5]

• Raymond Joseph Liddy (R) Deputy Attorney General in California, was accused of possessing child pornography. He was found guilty and given five years of probation. (2017)^[6][7]

• Matt Dababneh (D) State Assemblyman from Encino in the 45th District, was accused by multiple woman of inappropriate behavior, which included masturbating in public when he followed a woman into a bathroom during a party in Las Vegas. He resigned from office. (2017)^[8][9]

• Raul Bocanegra (D) State Assemblyman from the San Fernando Valley in the 39th District, abruptly resigned following sexual harassment allegations. (2017)^[10][11]

• Ron Calderon (D) State Senator from Montebello in the 30th District and brother of Assemblyman Tom Calderon, was accused of accepting bribes. He resigned his seat and pled guilty to mail fraud. He was sentenced to 42 months in prison. (2014)^[12][13]

• Leland Yee (D) State Senator from Montebello in the 30th District, was accused of multiple counts of bribery, corruption and tax evasion. He pled guilty to racketeering and was sentenced to five years in prison with community service. (2014)^[14][15]
• Kinde Durkee ( ) Campaign Treasurer for as many as 700 different political accounts in southern California, was accused of embezzling about seven million dollars. She was found guilty and sentenced to eight years in prison plus restitution. (2012)^[16][17]

• Mary Hayashi (D) State Assemblywoman, from Castro Valley in the 18th District, pled no contest to charges of shoplifting. She was given three years probation and fined $180. (2011)^[18]

• Roy Ashburn (R) State Senator from the 18th District, was arrested for DUI after leaving a gay bar. The famously anti-gay, married with children senator then admitted his sexual orientation. He was sentenced to 48 hours in jail, three years probation and fined. (2010)^[19]

• Roderick Wright (politician) (D) State Senator from Inglewood in the 35th District, was charged with perjury, filing a false declaration of candidacy and voting fraud. He was sentenced to ninety days in confinement and banned from public office for the rest of his life. (2008)^[20][21]

See also: List of federal political scandals in the United States

References[edit]