Oakland Mayor Responds To FBI Raid
Things are heating up in Oakland, where Mayor Sheng Thao is making headlines after a surprising and intense federal raid on her home. Let’s dive into the dramatic events and Mayor Thao’s fiery response.
Earlier this week, Mayor Sheng Thao found herself at the center of a media storm following a raid by federal law enforcement agents. More than a dozen agents descended on her residence, seizing various items, including paper boxes, clipboards, and large plastic tubs. But the raid didn’t stop there. Several other properties linked to a politically influential family involved in the city’s curbside recycling program were also targeted.
During a press conference on Monday, Mayor Thao didn't hold back. She adamantly declared her innocence, stating, “I want to be crystal clear: I have done nothing wrong. This investigation is not about me. I have not been charged with a crime, and I am confident that I will not be charged with a crime because I am innocent.”
The mayor demanded answers about the FBI’s probable cause for the raid. According to former FBI special agent Stuart Kaplan, authorities are legally prohibited from showing the affidavit that supports the warrant.
Despite this, Thao questioned, “What evidence have they collected that justifies raiding the home of a sitting mayor without notice and without the courtesy of a conversation?”
Thao didn’t stop there. She hinted at a broader conspiracy, suggesting that wealthy individuals from San Francisco and Piedmont were behind efforts to remove her from office. She pointed out the timing of the raid, noting it occurred the day after a recall election qualification, funded by some of the richest people in the Bay Area.
In a bold statement, she accused “radical right-wing forces” of trying to take over Oakland through this criminal investigation. “I will not be bullied and I will not be disparaged and I will not be threatened out of this office,” she asserted.
The situation is a tangled web of accusations, political maneuvering, and high stakes. As the investigation unfolds, the spotlight remains on Mayor Thao, her political opponents, and the mysterious motives behind the raid. Stay tuned, folks, because this story is far from over and promises to reveal even more twists and turns.
Days after the FBI raided her house, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao takes full responsibility for all finance and corruption allegations.
Just kidding, she blamed a radical right wing conspiracy… pic.twitter.com/uFlDQIRpW7
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) June 24, 2024