Xavier Becerra, the former Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and dark horse candidate in California’s gubernatorial race, was pressed over the weekend as several people involved in his campaign are facing prison time for stealing from a dormant campaign fund.
KCRA News’ Ashley Zavala told Becerra that the sheer amount of money allegedly being stolen would have raised alarm bells on any other campaign. He continued to deny any knowledge, pointing to his role as a cabinet official under former President Joe Biden, which he said required him to distance himself from the fund and rely on trusted aides to manage it.
“A couple of people who are close to you are now facing prison time for it, for stealing nearly a quarter of a million dollars in your campaign funds. I just, I know you’ve said it was a gut punch to see that,” Zavala said. “I mean, I just want to confirm on the record here, like you were really, truly misled there.”
“Yeah, as I said, gut punch,” Beccera replied. “You put your trust in people, but what you also have to remember is as much as you’ve had a working relationship over the years, as much as you’ve done things together and succeeded in so many ways, at the end of the day, we’re all accountable.”