Complaint filed against Bonta over use of campaign funds for legal help

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has received a formal complaint that alleges improper use of his campaign funds and use of campaign funds for attorney’s fees that amounted to nearly half a million dollars on legal fees and services to a private law firm. The Fair Political Practices Commission’s (FPPC) enforcement division said it received the complaint, which lists Bonta and his 2026 reelection campaign committee as respondents, documents obtained by KCRA 3 on Monday stated.According to the complaint filed by Rafael Ruthchild, Bonta allegedly violated the Political Reform Act when $468,000 in campaign funds were used in a way that was not “directly related to activities of the committee” and not “consistent with the primary objectives” of the committee.Ruthchild’s complaint also cites a statement Bonta’s campaign made on Nov. 17 in response to KCRA 3’s initial reporting on the campaign funds being spent on legal fees for outside legal counsel.”The AG wants to ensure that anyone who committed a crime is held accountable, so he engaged outside legal counsel to help his law enforcement partners pursue justice,” Bonta’s campaign stated.Campaign finance records show that five separate payments were made to law firm Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, totalling $468,228. As of October, Bonta’s reelection campaign account had about $6.2 million.Ruthchild argues that the manner in which the funds were used “conflicts with the FPPC Manual,” and he is calling on the agency to investigate and determine how much of the money may have violated ethics laws.The documents obtained by KCRA 3 also include an FPPC letter sent to Rob Bonta and his campaign committee confirming it received Ruthchild’s complaint. FPPC in the letter said it has not yet made any determination about the allegations, but it said it plans to do any of the following within 14 days.Investigate the allegations of the complaintRefer the complaint to another governmental agencyTake no action on the complaint because, on the basis of the information provided, the Commission does not appear to have jurisdiction to investigate; or Take no action on the complaint because the allegations of the complaint do not Warrant the Commission’s further actionWhen KCRA 3 first reported the expense on Monday, Bonta’s campaign claimed the money was meant to “help” federal investigators in their probe that resulted in the indictment of the ex-mayor of Oakland and the Duong family, who were Bonta’s donors. Dan Newman, Bonta’s campaign adviser, previously told KCRA 3 that the use of the funds was “absolutely proper” and that Bonta’s involvement in the federal bribery investigation is over.The roughly half-million amount is the most money spent on legal help by any candidate running for statewide office in California.You can read the complaint here.Newman called the complaint ” a silly political stunt, completely without merit.” See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has received a formal complaint that alleges improper use of his campaign funds and use of campaign funds for attorney’s fees that amounted to nearly half a million dollars on legal fees and services to a private law firm.

The Fair Political Practices Commission’s (FPPC) enforcement division said it received the complaint, which lists Bonta and his 2026 reelection campaign committee as respondents, documents obtained by KCRA 3 on Monday stated.

According to the complaint filed by Rafael Ruthchild, Bonta allegedly violated the Political Reform Act when $468,000 in campaign funds were used in a way that was not “directly related to activities of the committee” and not “consistent with the primary objectives” of the committee.

Ruthchild’s complaint also cites a statement Bonta’s campaign made on Nov. 17 in response to KCRA 3’s initial reporting on the campaign funds being spent on legal fees for outside legal counsel.

“The AG wants to ensure that anyone who committed a crime is held accountable, so he engaged outside legal counsel to help his law enforcement partners pursue justice,” Bonta’s campaign stated.

Campaign finance records show that five separate payments were made to law firm Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, totalling $468,228. As of October, Bonta’s reelection campaign account had about $6.2 million.

Ruthchild argues that the manner in which the funds were used “conflicts with the FPPC Manual,” and he is calling on the agency to investigate and determine how much of the money may have violated ethics laws.

The documents obtained by KCRA 3 also include an FPPC letter sent to Rob Bonta and his campaign committee confirming it received Ruthchild’s complaint. FPPC in the letter said it has not yet made any determination about the allegations, but it said it plans to do any of the following within 14 days.

Investigate the allegations of the complaintRefer the complaint to another governmental agencyTake no action on the complaint because, on the basis of the information provided, the Commission does not appear to have jurisdiction to investigate; or Take no action on the complaint because the allegations of the complaint do not Warrant the Commission’s further action

When KCRA 3 first reported the expense on Monday, Bonta’s campaign claimed the money was meant to “help” federal investigators in their probe that resulted in the indictment of the ex-mayor of Oakland and the Duong family, who were Bonta’s donors. Dan Newman, Bonta’s campaign adviser, previously told KCRA 3 that the use of the funds was “absolutely proper” and that Bonta’s involvement in the federal bribery investigation is over.

The roughly half-million amount is the most money spent on legal help by any candidate running for statewide office in California.

You can read the complaint here.

Newman called the complaint ” a silly political stunt, completely without merit.”

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel