The left ignores Democrats’ FBI wiretap sleaze – Latest News
Where’s the outrage from the left?
The similar crowd that’s incensed by President Donald Trump’s business dealings has made few public objections to corruption sleaze involving close allies of Gov. Gavin Newsom and his inheritor obvious, Xavier Becerra.
This week, The California Post broke a bombshell story: The lawyer for former Newsom chief of workers Dana Williamson stated that Alexis Podesta, longtime insider and Newsom appointee to a soft state board, had quietly cooperated with the FBI — carrying a wire to file conversations for 2 years.
This was during the probe into Williamson, who was indicted final 12 months on 23 counts of bank and wire fraud, submitting false tax returns and making false statements to the FBI.
The similar crowd that’s incensed by President Donald Trump’s business dealings has made few public objections to corruption sleaze involving close allies of Gov. Gavin Newsom and his inheritor obvious, Xavier Becerra. ZUMAPRESS.com
The lawyer for former Newsom chief of workers Dana Williamson stated that Alexis Podesta (above), longtime insider and Newsom appointee to a soft state board, had quietly cooperated with the FBI — carrying a wire to file conversations for 2 years. California Senate
In May, Williamson pleaded guilty to a few of these counts for her function in a scheme to siphon roughly $225,000 from a dormant Xavier Becerra marketing campaign account. Prosecutors stated the funds had been routed through sham funds to benefit Sean McCluskie — Becerra’s longtime chief of workers.
McCluskie himself pleaded guilty in 2025 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud.
Federal investigators have since expanded their scrutiny to incorporate issues regarding Newsom himself and separate probes of his spouse Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s nonprofit funds and taxes.
The California Post has additionally reported that Podesta herself is beneath investigation by the California Fair Political Practices Commission for allegedly failing to report $1 million in consulting income.
Prosecutors stated the funds had been routed through sham funds to benefit Sean McCluskie (above) — Becerra’s longtime chief of workers. KCRA 3
Federal investigators have since expanded their scrutiny to incorporate issues regarding Newsom himself and separate probes of his spouse Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s nonprofit funds and taxes. Governor Gavin Newsom
Podesta’s resolution to file former colleagues doesn’t simply “say” the case had tooth; it screams that the Democrat machine can activate itself when federal stress mounts.
Clearly, this advanced into a scandal that ought to not simply have Republicans, but in addition Democrats and their media allies, in full investigative mode.
At the guts of the corruption scandal, after all, are the previous prime aides of each the present and sure subsequent governor.
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These weren’t low-level assistants, distant from the boys in charge.
Still, the response from the left has been decidedly, strategically, quiet.
Reactions from Newsom-aligned Democrats — former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Sen. Adam Schiff, state Sen. Scott Wiener — nothing public, as of the writing of this column.
Podesta’s resolution to file former colleagues doesn’t simply “say” the case had tooth; it screams that the Democrat machine can activate itself when federal stress mounts. Governor Gavin Newsom
The acquainted refrain of virtuous outrage is surprisingly mute.
Mainstream leftist retailers just like the New York Times, CNN and MSNBC have been subdued on the Podesta wire specifics.
They scramble to cowl something with a trace of scandal involving Trump.
They did cowl Newsom’s June announcement that he and his spouse had been beneath investigation, albeit leaning into claims of political retaliation by Trump.
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But the contemporary particulars of an insider apparently flipping and recording conversations within the governor’s orbit? So far, principally crickets.
Compare this to how the identical ecosystem treats corruption or influence-peddling tales involving Republican figures: exhaustive collection, a number of angles, limitless skilled panels questioning systemic rot and presumptions of guilt dialed up to 11. The scandal would dominate headlines for weeks.
This selective silence isn’t some grand conspiracy.
It’s the predictable final result of partisan incentives in a media panorama the place alignment with Democratic energy in deep-blue California means softer scrutiny.
But the contemporary particulars of an insider apparently flipping and recording conversations within the governor’s orbit? So far, principally crickets. PattersonHUD
The implications for California politics are laborious to overstate.
Newsom, term-limited as governor, has long eyed a national stage and a 2028 run for president. Association with a scandal involving his former prime aide — upon whom the governor lavished reward whilst she resigned whereas beneath federal investigation — undermines any polished reformer image he would possibly domesticate.
Broader voter sentiment in California solely sharpens the sting.
Polling constantly reveals frustration with authorities efficiency, rising prices and perceptions of insider dealing.
National surveys mirror widespread perception that corruption is a systemic challenge throughout all politics.
In this climate, the left’s muted response to a scandal in its own yard doesn’t rebuild trust; it erodes it additional by signaling that some misconduct issues much less.
It all will depend on the crew jersey.
The typical amplifiers of outrage are surprisingly quiet.
The double commonplace isn’t delicate — it’s obtrusive.
Richie Greenberg is a political commentator based mostly in San Francisco.
