Oakland Corruption Trial: FBI Agent Shares Misstep That Tipped Off Investigators | KQED

A tip from the Oakland Public Ethics Commission launched the federal investigation into the alleged pay-to-play corruption scheme at the center of former Mayor Sheng Thao’s criminal trial, an FBI agent told the jury in federal court on Monday. The testimony came amid protests outside the courthouse from anti-public corruption activists and after a former Thao staffer shed light on efforts her staff made in the lead-up to the 2022 mayoral election to distance themselves from negative campaign mailers depicting her opponents. Thao’s former chief of staff Leigh Hanson also doubled down on her testimony last week that Thao called Andy Duong a “playboy” who was going to “ruin her career” as the second week of the trial got underway.

This excerpt comes from the named source. Read the original for the full reporting.