Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do Agrees to Resign and Plead Guilty to Bribery Charge
Background
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do has agreed to resign and plead guilty to accepting more than $550,000 in bribes to direct millions of dollars to a family-connected nonprofit, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.
A Pattern of Abuse of Power
At one point, Do was a rising and influential figure in Orange County politics. However, he had been under scrutiny for months since the Board of Supervisors learned he had voted to approve millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds to a nonprofit without disclosing it was connected to his daughter.
Federal Investigators’ Statement
“This money was intended to provide meals to the people who needed most in our community,” said U.S. Atty. Martin Estrada during a news conference at the federal courthouse in Santa Ana. “The scheme essentially functioned like Robin Hood in reverse.”
The Scheme
Instead of using the funds to provide meals to those in need, federal investigators said Do funneled some of that money to his family to enrich himself and buy them homes in the county.
Colleagues’ Reactions
Do’s colleagues on the board, including Vicente Sarmiento, were surprised and disappointed by the news. Sarmiento stated that the decision to plead guilty and step down could help the county move forward, but he also emphasized the need for a closer examination of Do’s actions as a board member.
Investigation and Fallout
Tuesday’s announcement was the culmination of a scandal that first shocked Orange County supervisors last year when LAist reported that Do approved as much as $13.5 million to Viet America Society without disclosing that his daughter was connected to the group. The county demanded Viet America Society return the money after an audit revealed the group could not prove it had done the work it was contracted to do. The county filed a lawsuit against the nonprofit and censured Do in September. Last week, Do’s chief of staff resigned after it was reported his girlfriend had worked for a nonprofit that received a lucrative county contract.
Federal Charges
According to the indictment filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Do solicited bribes in exchange for voting in favor of contracts that would provide federal and state COVID relief funds to co-conspirators. Do voted in favor of the contracts, including to Viet America Society, after which the nonprofit gave his daughter a job, according to the federal indictment.
Outlook and Next Steps
As part of Do’s plea agreement with federal officials, Rhiannon Do will also enter into a diversion agreement with the U.S. attorney’s office. Rhiannon Do was facing a charge of making a false statement in a loan application and has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors on the investigation. Her father has agreed to forfeit any assets or funds he gained from the scheme.
Conclusion
The scandal surrounding Do’s resignation and plea agreement is a significant setback for Orange County politics, but it is essential to hold elected officials accountable for their actions and ensure that the public trust is restored.
FAQs
Q: What did Andrew Do agree to?
A: Do agreed to plead guilty to accepting more than $550,000 in bribes and resign from his position as an Orange County Supervisor.
Q: Why did Do resign?
A: Do resigned as a result of the federal charges and the ongoing scandal surrounding his actions as a board member.
Q: What is the scope of the investigation?
A: The investigation is ongoing, and federal officials have seized over $2.4 million as part of the case. The county has also directed staff to review other vendors and contracts used during the pandemic.
