Orange County Supervisors are expected to publicly discuss the possibility of granting themselves subpoena power to investigate corruption. This discussion arises from ongoing frustration within the county administration regarding the handling of investigations related to the 2024 Andrew Do scandal.
The scandal involved former Supervisor Andrew Do steering COVID relief contracts to his family and connected vendors, ultimately leading to a bribery scheme and a five-year prison sentence. Subsequent audit reports have critically highlighted deficiencies in how various county executives, including former Health Care Agency Director Dr. Clayton Chou, managed public contracts and vendors during the pandemic.
Supervisors Janet Nguyen, a Republican, and Vicente Sarmiento, a Democrat, have increasingly raised concerns in public sessions, advocating for greater accountability beyond the direct prosecution of Do. Nguyen has expressed her frustration with the pace of accountability, stating, "I don’t want this dragging out for a decade." She emphasizes that taxpayers deserve action and a more thorough accounting of past misconduct.
Previously, a different bipartisan coalition on the Board, comprising Republican Don Wagner and Democrat Katrina Foley, opted against county-led investigations into the Do scandal. They preferred to rely on federal prosecutors and county lawsuits for discovery and accountability. Wagner characterized the scandal as the isolated product of a corrupt politician, cautioning against overreaction. Foley suggested at the time that a county investigation could complicate ongoing lawsuits, which she believed would be the most effective tool for discovery.
However, years later, federal investigations appear to have not extended beyond Do's prosecution, and public information on the progress of the county's lawsuits against Do and others remains limited. This contrasts with the City of Anaheim's approach, which, after its city hall scandal, contracted the JL Group for an independent investigation and received a public report within a year.
The recent scathing audits by the Weaver Group concerning the county's contracting culture have seemingly solidified an alliance between Nguyen and Sarmiento. Sarmiento, who has consistently called for more robust investigation, noted that the audit findings underscore the value of independent review in identifying weaknesses and potential misconduct. He stressed that it is now the Board's responsibility to act.
Sarmiento further echoed Nguyen's frustration, pointing out a perceived lack of comprehensive pursuit in recovering taxpayer dollars from entities and individuals identified in the latest audit findings. Nguyen, who joined the Board after the November 2024 election, was a state senator when the Do scandal initially surfaced.
Nguyen is now publicly urging the District Attorney to seriously review these cases, offering her assistance, including drafting subpoenas for bank records. She has requested the County Counsel to examine the Board's authority to grant itself this power. Sarmiento supports the Board collectively pursuing all available avenues, which include referrals to law enforcement, independent investigations, and civil actions, to recover improperly obtained public funds and ensure taxpayers are fully reimbursed.
With these discussions gaining momentum, the prospect of the Board of Supervisors acquiring subpoena powers is anticipated to be a prominent item on upcoming agendas, potentially transforming the approach to accountability within Orange County.
