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Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao faces new allegations in federal case

nbcbayarea.com · 18h · first reportShare

Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is due back in court Friday morning as she faces new allegations in what prosecutors are calling a “pay-to-play” scheme involving Thao, her boyfriend and a pair of Oakland businessmen. Thao is scheduled to appear for a pretrial motion hearing at 9 a.m. in Oakland. New court records include allegations of a five-figure bribe intended to prevent a potentially scandalous story from being published. The allegations stem from a 2023 trip to Vietnam funded by California Waste Solutions. According to an affidavit filed with the court, a reporter began asking questions about alleged drug use and sexual conduct involving people on the trip. Prosecutors allege Thao became “angry” and concerned about her political future, leading her to allegedly pressure the owners of California Waste Solutions to pay a reporter’s associate $10,000 to prevent the story from being published. Prosecutors also allege one of the business owners kept dozens of secret recordings, photos