Key players are distancing themselves from Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao as her administration and legal team grapple with the aftermath of an FBI raid on her residence. In the wake of a fiery speech where Thao vehemently proclaimed her innocence, both her personal lawyer and the head of communications for her administration have resigned. A former chief of staff, who stepped down in 2022, has called for Thao’s resignation, citing a pay-to-play scandal involving her administration.
The departure of these individuals of high caliber has raised concerns about the stability of Thao’s administration and the inaction of the City Council, with public relations specialist Sam Singer remarking that the city of Oakland is on the verge of collapse. The current crisis facing Mayor Thao has two main components. Firstly, a campaign to recall her has successfully made it onto the November ballot. Secondly, the FBI conducted a raid on Thao’s house the day after the recall campaign’s approval, as part of an ongoing investigation with limited details available.
Thao broke her silence on Monday, asserting her innocence and portraying herself as a victim of federal agents who she claimed would have treated her differently if she came from a wealthier background. Her attorney, Tony Brass, was taken aback by her comments and subsequently resigned, stating that he was unaware of her plans to hold a news conference. Thao has since acquired new legal counsel, expressing gratitude to Brass for his initial guidance.
Following Brass’s departure, the mayor’s head of communications, Francis Zamora, also resigned after serving in the position for nine months. Zamora thanked his colleagues for their professionalism and dedication, while Thao acknowledged his contributions and wished him well.
Renia Webb, another former key ally who worked for Thao’s 2022 campaign and served as chief of staff, has joined the chorus calling for the mayor’s resignation. Webb alleged that Thao’s boyfriend, Andre Jones, promised jobs to individuals in exchange for money. Webb’s decision to resign shortly after the election was influenced by these revelations.
The FBI has not disclosed the specifics of their investigation, but the raid on the mayor’s residence coincided with a separate raid on the home of Andy Duong, whose family owns and operates Cal Waste Solutions. The company has been under scrutiny by a city ethics panel regarding campaign contributions made to Thao and others.
Thao, without providing substantiating evidence, linked the FBI raid to the campaign seeking her recall. If the recall effort succeeds, she would become the first Oakland mayor to face such a vote.
