California Politics 360 full episode | US Justice Dept. continues elections investigation
On California Politics 360, Ashley Zavala sat down with First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who is leading the investigation.
CALLING OUT CALIFORNIA AFTER THE PRIMARY ELECTION. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SAYS IT’S ACTIVELY INVESTIGATING CLAIMS OF VOTER FRAUD. IS THIS WIDESPREAD FRAUD? HOW SPREAD IS IT? AND I THINK THAT’S REALLY THE QUESTION WE’RE TRYING TO ANSWER. BUT HAVE THEY FOUND ANY EVIDENCE? IT TOOK A WEEK TO KNOW WHICH TWO CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR WOULD FACE OFF IN NOVEMBER. WE ASK IF IT SHOULD BE FASTER. CALIFORNIA’S NEWEST CONGRESSMAN. I COME HERE TO THIS FLOOR TO FILL SOME VERY BIG BOOTS IN. CONGRESSMAN DOUG LAMALFA, WHERE JAMES GALLAGHER STANDS ON KEY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE WAR IN IRAN. CAL FIRE. PREPARE TO ATTACK ANY FIRE THAT SPARKS FROM THE GROUND AND IN THE AIR. WHAT THE AGENCY IS DOING WITH THE SKY HIGH FUEL PRICES. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CALIFORNIA POLITICS 360. I’M ASHLEY ZAVALA. OFFICIALS WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CONFIRM THEY ARE ACTIVELY INVESTIGATING CLAIMS RELATED TO VOTER FRAUD AFTER THE CALIFORNIA PRIMARY ELECTION. IT COMES AS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS REPEATEDLY SAID THE ELECTION IS RIGGED BUT HAS NOT PROVIDED PROOF. I SPOKE WITH FIRST ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY BILL AZALI, WHO IS LEADING THIS INVESTIGATION. HERE’S PART OF OUR CONVERSATION. YOU SAID EARLIER THIS WEEK YOU OPENED VOTER FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS. WHAT’S THE STATUS OF THOSE RIGHT NOW? YEAH. SO THERE’S A FEW THINGS GOING ON. ONE THING IS, YOU KNOW, THERE’S A LOT OF TALK IN THE MEDIA THAT THERE’S NO EVIDENCE OF VOTER FRAUD. SO WE JUST WANTED TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT, THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE. AND IN FACT, WE CHARGE THE CASE. JUST LAST MONTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS PAYING HOMELESS PEOPLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE WITH FICTITIOUS INFORMATION. SO THAT’S NOT A THEORY. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF VOTER FRAUD. AND WHAT I’VE SAID IS THAT WE HAVE OTHER SIMILAR MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE ONGOING UNDER LONG STANDING DOJ RULES. WE CAN’T DISCUSS THE SPECIFICS OF ANY INVESTIGATION, BUT THEY ARE ONGOING, AND I DO BELIEVE THEY WILL RESULT IN CRIMINAL CHARGES IN THE NEAR FUTURE. OKAY. ARE YOU ABLE TO SAY IF, LIKE ANY ONE GOVERNMENTAL LIKE STATE OR LOCAL AGENCY IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY YOUR OFFICE? SO WE DON’T WE DON’T EVER DISCUSS WHO’S UNDER INVESTIGATION OR WHAT THE NATURE OF THE INVESTIGATION IS, AND THAT’S TO PROTECT INNOCENT PEOPLE IN CASE WE DON’T END UP CHARGING THEM, BUT ALSO THE INTEGRITY OF THE INVESTIGATION. WHAT I HAVE SAID IS WE WILL FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE WHEREVER IT GOES. AND WE HAVE VARIOUS INVESTIGATIONS AT VARIOUS STAGES. SO SOME OF THEM ARE MORE DEVELOPED AND THEY’RE READY TO CHARGE. OTHERS ARE BRAND NEW AND BEING WORKED UP, AND WE ARE GETTING TIPS EVERY DAY FROM THE PUBLIC OF POTENTIAL LEADS OF, OF NEW CASES. SO THERE’S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON. IT’S NOT JUST ONE CASE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE CASES. I THINK SORT OF THE QUESTION YOU’RE GETTING TO ASHLEY IN A LOT OF REPORTERS WILL ASK IS, IS THIS WIDESPREAD FRAUD? HOW SPREAD IS IT? AND I THINK THAT’S REALLY THE QUESTION WE’RE TRYING TO ANSWER. I DON’T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT, BECAUSE THOSE REQUIRE INTENSE INVESTIGATIONS. AND SO WHAT I CAN SAY RIGHT NOW IS, ARE THERE IS THERE EVIDENCE OF FRAUD? YES, THERE ARE. ARE THEY JUST MULTIPLE ISOLATED INCIDENCES OR IS THERE SOME BIGGER CONNECTION TO THE TWO THAT’S UNDER INVESTIGATION? AND WE’RE GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT. BUT I JUST WHAT I DON’T UNDERSTAND IS THE RESISTANCE FROM LEADERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE MEDIA TO RESIST LOOKING INTO THESE CLAIMS. AND SO WE’RE NOT PREJUDGING ANYTHING. WE’RE NOT WE’RE NOT CONCLUDING ANYTHING. ALL I’VE SAID IS OUR OFFICE IS TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY. WE’LL FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE WHEREVER IT GOES. THERE ARE INVESTIGATIONS. THEY WILL RESULT IN CHARGES. AND WE’D LIKE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF HOW WIDESPREAD THIS GOES. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT’S ALSO WHY WE’RE CALLING FOR AN AUDIT. I THINK THE AUDIT IS THE BEST WAY TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THERE ISN’T WIDESPREAD FRAUD. AND THAT’S SOMETHING THAT WE’VE DEMANDED THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA COMPLY WITH. BUT SO FAR, THEY’VE RESISTED. AND I WANT TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THAT AUDIT IN A SECOND. BUT JUST TO CIRCLE BACK, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE MEDIA. PEOPLE ARE POINTING OUT THAT THERE IS NO PROOF OF FRAUD. I MEAN, A LOT OF THAT IS IS RELATED TO THE PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ELECTION. HE’S CLAIMING IT’S RIGGED. AND I KNOW YOUR OFFICE, AGAIN, IS IS MAKING CLEAR THAT YOU’RE INVESTIGATING. BUT HAVE YOU BEEN TALKING WITH THE PRESIDENT? LIKE, WHERE IS HE GETTING THE IDEA THAT THAT IT COULD BE RIGGED? I MEAN, YOU’LL HAVE TO ASK THE WHITE HOUSE ABOUT THAT. I MEAN, WHAT THE I THINK WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING, HE’S FRUSTRATED. I THINK A LOT OF US WERE, AS A FORMER LEGISLATOR IN SACRAMENTO, YOU KNOW, HE DOESN’T NECESSARILY HAVE TO MEAN ILLEGAL. I MEAN, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE WAY CALIFORNIA CONDUCTS ELECTIONS, MOST PEOPLE WOULD CONSIDER THAT HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS. THE FACT THAT THEY DON’T CHECK CITIZENSHIP STATUS WHEN YOU REGISTER TO VOTE, THE FACT THAT YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOTE WITH A GYM MEMBERSHIP CARD. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT’S THAT’S SUSPICIOUS. THE FACT THAT CALIFORNIA DOES UNIVERSAL VOTE BY MAIL. SO EVERYONE GETS A BALLOT IN THE MAIL, WHETHER YOU’RE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHETHER YOU WANT ONE OR YOU DON’T, THAT’S SUSPICIOUS. THE FACT THAT CALIFORNIA ALLOWS UNREGULATED BALLOT HARVESTING, MEANING ANYONE CAN GO HANDLE AND SOLICIT PEOPLE’S BALLOTS, AND THERE’S NO CHAIN OF CUSTODY THAT’S SUSPICIOUS. AND THAT’S ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT’S OUTLAWED IN A LOT OF STATES. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE NO VOTER ID. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT, WHEN HE SAYS RIGGED, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE THINKING LIKE, YOU KNOW, QUOTE UNQUOTE, FRAUD. BUT I THINK HE’S REFERRING TO JUST THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE BREEDS SUSPICION. AND IT’S NOT ONE THAT PROMOTES THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE INTEGRITY IN OUR ELECTIONS. AND I ALSO TALK ABOUT HIS OFFICE’S ATTEMPT TO AUDIT CALIFORNIA’S VOTER ROLLS, AND HOW A COURT IS SET TO DECIDE IF THAT CAN MOVE FORWARD. WELL, IT TOOK A WEEK FOR CALIFORNIANS TO LEARN WHO ADVANCED IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR AND OTHER KEY CONGRESSIONAL RACES. COUNTY REGISTRAR OFFICES ARE WORKING TO CERTIFY THE MORE THAN 9 MILLION VOTES CAST IN THIS PRIMARY. I ASKED THE LEADER OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS COMMITTEE COULD MORE BE DONE TO SPEED UP THE RESULTS? HOTTEST ONE THERE. NEW LOCO TENDERS LET’S GET LOCO! EL POLLO LOCO. CALIFORNIANS WAITED A WEEK TO LEARN WHICH CANDIDATES FOR KEY RACES, INCLUDING GOVERNOR, WOULD ADVANCE TO THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. COUNTY REGISTRAR OFFICES ACROSS THE STATE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO RELEASE RESULTS FROM THE JUNE PRIMARY. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO PROCESSING BALLOTS, THE SPEED VARIES BY COUNTY AND IT’S INCONSISTENT STATEWIDE. I SAT DOWN WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER GAIL PELLERIN, WHO CHAIRS THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY. HERE’S PART OF OUR CONVERSATION. AS A FORMER COUNTY CLERK AND ELECTIONS OFFICIAL, HOW DO YOU THINK THIS ELECTION HAS GONE SO FAR? I THINK IT’S GONE EXTREMELY WELL. I THINK OUR 58 COUNTIES PERFORMED WITH GREAT SPEED AND SECURITY AND TRANSPARENCY, AND I HEAR TURNOUT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A RECORD HIGH FOR A PRIMARY AS WELL. SO THAT’S ALWAYS REASSURING AS WELL THAT THE VOTERS ARE ENGAGED AND CASTING THEIR VOTES AND MAKING THEIR VOICE HEARD. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE REACTION FROM SOME VOTERS, PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN HOPING, PERHAPS LIKE IN LOS ANGELES, THAT A SPENCER PRATT THEY WISH WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CLAIMING THAT OUR ELECTION WAS RIGGED AND JUST POTENTIALLY JUST THIS BROADER SENSE OF A POTENTIAL LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR SYSTEM. WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT? YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT NARRATIVE HAS BEEN PU BEEN PUT OUT THERE. AND I DON’T LIKE TO GIVE IT ANY OXYGEN. I THINK THAT IT’S ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE VOTE, THE THERE’S WINNERS AND LOSERS. AND THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF OUR DEMOCRACY. AND I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO VOTING. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT THAT THE ELECTIONS OFFICIALS ARE DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ELIGIBLE VOTER WHO’S CAST A BALLOT, THAT BALLOT GOES THROUGH SCRUTINY. THE SIGNATURES COMPARED ON THE ENVELOPE, IF YOU VOTED IN PERSON. THERE’S A BIG AUDIT THAT GOES ON AS FAR AS THE IN-PERSON VOTING AS WELL. SO WHEN AN ELECTIONS OFFICIAL CERTIFIES THAT STATEMENT OF VOTE, ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT THESE VOTES HAVE BEEN COUNTED ACCURATELY, THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND ALL THEIR AUDITS AND ALL THE WORK THAT THEY NEED TO DO TO VERIFY THAT RESULT. COULD THERE BE ANY CHANGES TO GIVE A BROADER RANGE OF PEOPLE, THOUGH, IN THE STATE, MORE CONFIDENCE IN THE PROCESS? I THINK THAT FOR THE MOST PART, VOTERS DO FEEL CONFIDENT IN HOW THEIR BALLOT IS COUNTED. AND THAT AND I DO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO, IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, TO GO DOWN AND MEET WITH YOUR COUNTY ELECTIONS, OFFICIAL TOUR THE VOTES, THE VOTING LOCATION, TOUR THE ELECTIONS OFFICE, SEE THE PROCESS THAT THEY HAVE AS FAR AS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BALLOTS COME IN AND HOW THEY GET PROCESSED, HOW THEY GET COUNTED, HOW THEY GET RECOUNTED IN AN AUDIT THAT IS DONE, WHERE EVERY CONTEST IS MANUALLY RECOUNTED. SO THAT PROCESS TAKES TIME. THERE’S FOUR PEOPLE THAT SIT DOWN TO DO THAT, WHERE ONE PERSON READS THE VOTE, ANOTHER PERSON OBSERVES IT, AND TWO PEOPLE RECORD. SO IT’S A VERY DILIGENT, VERY TIME CONSUMING PROCESS TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF THE VOTE. BUT HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN THIS TIME CONSUMING? I MEAN, YOU WERE AN ELECTIONS OFFICIAL IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY. I MEAN, HAS IT ALWAYS TAKEN THIS LONG? IT’S YOU KNOW, I DON’T THINK IT’S TAKEN THAT LONG. I THINK IT TAKES AS LONG AS NECESSARY TO ENSURE AN ACCURATE VOTE COUNT. AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE SITTING HERE ON WHAT IS IT NOW, THE EIGHTH DAY AFTER THE ELECTION, I THINK LAST NIGHT, A WEEK AFTER THE ELECTION, THE MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE DECLARED WINNERS. SO I FEEL LIKE THAT’S PRETTY EFFICIENT. AND WE HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION. ASSEMBLY MEMBER BERMAN DID A BILL LAST YEAR THAT BASICALLY STATED THAT THESE BALLOTS NEED TO BE COUNTED WITHIN TEN DAYS. ELECTIONS OFFICIALS ROSE TO THAT OCCASION AND MADE THAT HAPPEN. I HAVE A BILL THAT WAS PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW, AB 626, THAT ALLOWS THAT MAIL VOTE, MAIL BALLOT VOTER WHO LIKES TO SIT AT HOME, TALK TO FAMILY AND VOTE THEIR BALLOT. BUT THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BALLOTS ARE COUNTED ELECTION NIGHT. AND MAYBE THEY LIKE TO WAIT TILL THE VERY LAST DAY TO GET THE LATEST IN WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE FIELD OF WHO THEIR SELECTIONS ARE, THAT THEY CAN NOW WALK INTO A POLLING SITE AND THEY CAN BE SIGNED IN AS AN IN-PERSON VOTER. AND THAT BALLOT THEY VOTED FROM HOME CAN BE PUT DIRECTLY INTO THE BALLOT BOX. SO NOT EVERY COUNTY IT CAN DO THAT. I THINK LA IS WORKING ON DEVELOPING THE TOOLS TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR, BUT I KNOW PLACER COUNTY EMBRACED THIS LEGISLATIVE IDEA AND THIS NEW LAW THAT WE HAVE, AND THEY IMPLEMENTED IT. AND I THINK THEY HAD 16,000 VOTERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SHAVE THREE DAYS OFF THEIR CANVASS. BUT I DON’T THINK YOU’RE EVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAY, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE ELECTION RESULTS ON ELECTION NIGHT, UNLESS WE TOTALLY CHANGE THE WAY CALIFORNIA VOTES. SO WILL COUNTIES SEE MORE MONEY FROM STATE LAWMAKERS SOON TO HELP WITH THE NOVEMBER ELECTION? PELLERIN AND I TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE IN OUR FULL INTERVIEW ON CAL POLITICS 360.COM. STATE LAWS RECENTLY TOOK EFFECT TO TRY TO SPEED UP THE BALLOT COUNTING PROCESS. AS PELLERIN MENTIONED THERE, ONE ALLOWS COUNTIES TO OPEN UP AND PROCESS BALLOTS RECEIVED BEFORE ELECTION DAY. WE REACHED OUT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE TO FIND OUT HOW MANY BALLOTS WERE ACTUALLY COUNTED EARLY, BUT THE OFFICE DIDN’T HAVE THAT INFORMATION. THEY SAID WE WOULD NEED TO CONTACT ALL 58 COUNTIES. WE HAVE BEGUN THAT PROCESS. NEXT REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS. NEWLY SWORN IN, REPRESENTATIVE JAMES GALLAGHER TALKS ABOUT THE IMPACT HE HOPES TO MAKE WHILE SERVING OUT HIS LATE MENTOR’S THAT YOU WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE ON WHICH YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER, SO HELP YOU GOD. I DO. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU’RE NOW A MEMBER OF THE 119TH CONGRESS. THIS WEEK, REPUBLICAN JAMES GALLAGHER WAS SWORN IN AS A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TO SERVE THE NORTH PART OF THE STATE. THE FORMER STATE ASSEMBLYMAN WILL NOW SERVE THE REMAINDER OF THE TERM LEFT BY THE LATE REPRESENTATIVE DOUG LAMALFA. LAMALFA SUDDENLY PASSED AWAY IN JANUARY AND THE SEAT HAD BEEN EMPTY FOR SIX MONTHS. I SAT DOWN WITH REPRESENTATIVE GALLAGHER. HERE’S PART OF OUR CONVERSATION. HAVE YOU BEEN ASSIGNED TO ANY COMMITTEES YET, OR ARE THERE ANY THAT YOU’VE ALREADY REQUESTED THAT YOU’D REALLY LIKE TO SERVE ON? I HAVEN’T YET. YOU KNOW, THAT’S PART OF THE PROCESS THAT I’M LEARNING. THEY HAVE WHAT’S CALLED THE STEERING COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, HERE IN CONGRESS. AND THAT’S REALLY WHO DETERMINES, YOU KNOW, WHAT COMMITTEES YOU WILL SIT ON. I CERTAINLY LIKE HIM, YOU KNOW, HOPING TO GET ON THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. CONGRESSMAN LAMALFA SAT ON THAT COMMITTEE. AND THAT’S VERY IMPORTANT. OBVIOUSLY, TRYING TO ENSURE WE GET INVESTMENTS IN WATER STORAGE AND AND ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE. YOU KNOW, IN THE STATE, I THINK ARE, YOU KNOW, VERY KEY THINGS. AGRICULTURE, OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT TO THE DISTRICT AS WELL. WATER. RESOURCE ISSUES. WILDFIRES. SO THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE WOULD WOULD BE ANOTHER ONE THAT I THINK I’D BE INTERESTED IN. SO, YOU KNOW, WE’LL SEE WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT TRANSPIRES, I’M CERTAINLY PUTTING IN FOR THE THINGS THAT I’M INTERESTED IN. BUT NO MATTER WHAT, WE’RE GOING TO GET TO WORK FOR THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO MY CONSTITUENTS IN THE IN THE FIRST DISTRICT. ARE THERE OTHER FEDERAL ISSUES THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK FORWARD TO ADDRESSING IN YOUR NEW OFFICE THAT MIGHT NOT BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO YOUR DISTRICT, BUT OVERARCHINGLY MAY BROADLY HELP. WELL, ONE GOT RIGHT TO. I MEAN, MY FIRST VOTE ON THE FLOOR WAS ABOUT A BILL ABOUT WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE. AND I THINK THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE ISSUE CUTTING ACROSS THE ENTIRE NATION. BUT CERTAINLY HERE IN CALIFORNIA, YOU KNOW, WE’VE JUST SEEN THIS RAMPANT FRAUD, YOU KNOW, WITH THE HOSPICE CRISIS WHERE PEOPLE WERE, YOU KNOW, BILLING MEDI-CAL MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FRAUDULENTLY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ONE DOCTOR WHO KILLED 207, $287 MILLION. YOU KNOW, THAT’S THAT’S MONEY THAT WE DON’T HAVE, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF THAT. SO RIGHT AWAY, WE’RE GETTING ON TOP OF. WE PASSED SEVERAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION TO GET ON TOP OF OVERSIGHT AND STOPPING THE WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE THAT HAS BECOME WAY TOO RAMPANT IN OUR PROGRAMS. I KNOW THIS IS AN EVOLVING SITUATION. I KNOW AGAIN, YOU’RE JUST NOW RIGHT, REALLY GETTING TO WORK, BUT WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE WAR IN IRAN AND THE PRESIDENT’S APPROACH TO THIS WHOLE SITUATION SO FAR, NOW THAT YOU’RE DIRECTLY THERE IN DC, AS SOME OF THESE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE? YEAH. WELL, ONE, I MEAN, I THINK IT WAS A NECESSARY MOVE. YOU KNOW, IRAN IS A, YOU KNOW, SPONSOR OF TERROR. YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE BEEN BEHIND HEZBOLLAH AND HAMAS. THEY HAVE ATTACKED, YOU KNOW, OUR SOLDIERS FOR 40 YEARS HAS BEEN A REIGN OF TERROR OVER THE PEOPLE OF IRAN. AND I THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT SAW A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, HAD RED LINES AND PILES OF CASH. YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THEIR FOREIGN POLICY. THIS PRESIDENT MEANS BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, AND HE TOOK A DECISIVE ACTION. THERE CERTAINLY NEEDS TO BE CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT. AND YOU’RE HEARING THAT FROM FOLKS, YOU KNOW, HERE IN THE IN THE HOUSE. THERE’S DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE WAR POWERS ACT, FOR EXAMPLE. BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WHAT I DO SEE FROM THIS PRESIDENT IS HE TOOK DECISIVE ACTION. HE’S ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED SEVERAL OF THE OBJECTIVES. AND RIGHT NOW HE’S TRYING TO GET TO A A REAL PEACE, RIGHT? A REAL PEACE HERE WHERE IRAN GIVES UP ON ITS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS. YOU KNOW, THAT’S A VERY KEY PART OF THIS. AND THAT THEY REOPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. AND SO THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS HE’S REALLY PUSHING FOR. BUT YOU’RE DEALING WITH A PRETTY OBSTINATE GROUP HERE. IT’S IT’S WHY IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING FOR SO LONG AND HAS ELUDED SO MANY PRESIDENTS BEFORE, AS YOU DON’T HAVE RATIONAL ACTORS ON THE OTHER SIDE. SO HE’S CONTINUING TO PUSH ON THAT. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GIVE THAT PRESIDENT THAT LEEWAY TO MAKE THAT DECISIVE ACTION AND BRING THIS TO A LASTING PEACE. REPRESENTATIVE GALLAGHER AND I ALSO TALK ABOUT HIS OUTGOING MESSAGE TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY, WHERE HE CALLS ON THEM TO MOVE FORWARD. HIS PROPOSED PLAN THAT WOULD ALLOW A SECTION OF THE STATE TO BREAK AWAY AND BECOME A NEW STATE, READY TO RESPOND. FIREFIGHTERS ACROSS THE STATE SAY THEY’RE PREPARED TO ATTACK ANY FIRE THAT SPARKS THE IMPACT. THE RISING COST OF JET FUEL IS STATEWIDE, FIREFIGHTERS ARE READY TO RESPOND TO ANY FIRE. CALIFORNIA RECENTLY EXPANDED ITS AERIAL FLEET WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF A FOURTH C-130 AIR TANKER, BUT IT COMES AT A TIME AMID HIGH OIL AND JET FUEL PRICES. I SAT DOWN WITH CAL FIRE BATTALION CHIEF DAVID ACUNA. HERE’S PART OF OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE SITUATION IN IRAN POTENTIALLY ESCALATING THIS WEEK. QUESTIONS AROUND THE COST OF FUEL. WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN FOR CAL FIRE’S AERIAL FIREFIGHTING FLEET? SO WHILE WE ARE ALWAYS COGNIZANT THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN OUR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY, WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IS THAT WHEN WE INVEST IN SENDING OUR AIRCRAFT OUT EARLY TO NEW FIRES, WHICH IS OUR PROCEDURE, THEN WE’RE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE FIRE GETS OUT MUCH EARLIER, WHICH ULTIMATELY SAVES MANY, MANY HOURS OF AIRCRAFT FLYING. SURE. BUT I MEAN, JUST THE QUESTIONS AROUND JET ARE AIRLINES THAT ARE CANCELING FLIGHTS NATIONWIDE, OR AT LEAST LIMITING THEM BECAUSE OF A POSSIBLE SHORTAGE. THE PRICE INCREASES JUST, I MEAN, IS, ARE THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT CAL FIRE IS HAVING? ABSOLUTELY. BUT WE ALSO GO BACK TO THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE ATTACK FROM THE GROUND AND THE AIR SIMULTANEOUSLY, WE’RE ABLE TO KEEP THE FIRE SMALLER SO THAT INSTEAD OF NOT HAVING THE AIRCRAFT AVAILABLE AND NOW GETTING TO 1000, 2000, 10,000 ACRES, WE’RE KEEPING IT TO EIGHT ACRES, NINE ACRES, MUCH SMALLER, MUCH SAFER. HOW IS I MEAN, IS CAL FIRE TRYING TO CONSERVE FUEL AT THIS MOMENT? WHAT ARE THE EFFORTS TO AGAIN, ADDRESS THIS? YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CHALLENGE THAT MAYBE CAL FIRE HASN’T REALLY HAD TO FACE IN THE LAST DECADE. REALLY? WELL, LIKE ANY OTHER INDUSTRY, WE FIND EFFICIENCIES WHERE WE CAN. AND LIKE I MENTIONED, THE MOST IMPORTANT EFFICIENCY IS THE FACT THAT WE GET THERE EARLY, WE GET THERE OFTEN AND KEEP THEM VERY SMALL, WHICH LIMITS THE NEED FOR AIRCRAFT TO FLY. OKAY, SO STATE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS ARE RAMPING UP RIGHT NOW. THIS IS A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR FOR CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR FOR A MYRIAD OF REASONS. IS CAL FIRE EXPECTING ANY CUTS? SO THOSE ARE NEGOTIATIONS THAT ARE WELL ABOVE MY LEVEL. BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IS THAT AS WE LOOK AT THE NEED FOR FIRE RESPONSE, SO WHICH MEANS FIREFIGHTERS FOR MECHANICS, FOR THE VARIOUS FOLKS THAT GET INVOLVED WITH OUR FIREFIGHTING ABILITIES, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REQUESTING THE FOLKS THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE, AGGRESSIVE FIRE RESPONSE. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC NEEDS THAT CAL FIRE IS EYEING THIS YEAR THAT YOU ALL MAY BE ASKING FOR FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR? SO WE’RE IN THE PROCESS OF INCREASING OUR STAFFING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS. 66 HOUR WORK WEEK. BUT WE’RE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE’RE STAFFING ALL 356 OF OUR FIRE ENGINES, 365 DAYS A YEAR. BATTALION CHIEF ACUNA AND I ALSO TALK ABOUT HOW CAL FIRE HAS PREPARED FOR THIS FIRE SEASON AND THE IMPACT THE NEW RESOURCES HAVE ON THE AGENCY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS WEEK’S CALIFORNIA POLITICS 360. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
California Politics 360 full episode | US Justice Dept. continues elections investigation
On California Politics 360, Ashley Zavala sat down with First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who is leading the investigation.
Updated: 8:25 AM PDT Jun 14, 2026
Officials with the U.S. Department of Justice confirm they are actively investigating claims related to potential voter fraud after the California primary election. On California Politics 360, Ashley Zavala sat down with First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who is leading the investigation. Californians waited a week to learn which candidates for key races would advance to the General Election in November. County registrar offices have been working to release the results of the more than 9 million ballots cast. Zavala sat down with Assembly Member Gail Pellerin, who chairs the elections committee in the state legislature. Republican James Gallagher was sworn in as a U.S. representative this week to serve the remainder of the term left by the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa. Zavala sits down with Gallagher to see where he stands on key issues, including the War in Iran. California recently expanded its aerial firefighting fleet, with the deployment of a fourth C-130H airtanker. Zavala sits down with Cal Fire Battalion Chief David Acuña to talk about the impact high jet fuel prices are having on the agency.KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.
Officials with the U.S. Department of Justice confirm they are actively investigating claims related to potential voter fraud after the California primary election.
On California Politics 360, Ashley Zavala sat down with First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who is leading the investigation.
Californians waited a week to learn which candidates for key races would advance to the General Election in November. County registrar offices have been working to release the results of the more than 9 million ballots cast. Zavala sat down with Assembly Member Gail Pellerin, who chairs the elections committee in the state legislature.
Republican James Gallagher was sworn in as a U.S. representative this week to serve the remainder of the term left by the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa. Zavala sits down with Gallagher to see where he stands on key issues, including the War in Iran.
California recently expanded its aerial firefighting fleet, with the deployment of a fourth C-130H airtanker. Zavala sits down with Cal Fire Battalion Chief David Acuña to talk about the impact high jet fuel prices are having on the agency.
KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.