In a stunning turn of events, former Oakland mayor Sheng Thao has been indicted by a federal grand jury mere months after being ousted in a recall election. The indictment comes on the heels of an FBI raid on Thao’s home last June, though details of the charges have not yet been made public. A formal announcement is expected on Friday.
Mayor Thao’s Turbulent Tenure
Sheng Thao made history in 2022 when she became the first Hmong American woman to lead a major US city and, at 37, the youngest Oakland mayor in 75 years. However, her brief 18-month tenure was plagued by controversy:
- Police chief firing: In February 2023, Thao fired popular police chief Leronne Armstrong after he was implicated in systemic failures within the department and publicly accused a federal watchdog of corruption without evidence.
- “Soft on crime” criticism: Thao faced accusations that her policies contributed to rising crime rates and the loss of major businesses like the Oakland A’s, In-N-Out, and Denny’s.
- Billionaire-backed recall: Wealthy tech and crypto executives bankrolled a recall effort – the first in Oakland in over a century – that ultimately succeeded in removing Thao from office in November.
Thao had come into office pledging to fill vacancies in Oakland’s troubled police department and invest in violence prevention. But her progressive approach drew ire from pro-law enforcement factions and the business community.
FBI Raid Foreshadowed Indictment
The writing may have been on the wall since last June, when federal agents raided Thao’s home. At the time, Thao denied any wrongdoing and suggested the raid’s timing – days after the mayoral recall qualified for the ballot – was suspicious. But sources now say the federal investigation that began nearly a year ago has yielded an indictment.
Details are scarce, but the involvement of the FBI, IRS, and US Postal Service inspectors suggests the charges could relate to corruption or financial crimes. Whatever the case, it’s a shocking epilogue to Sheng Thao’s mayoral saga.
John Diaz, longtime Bay Area political observer
A Trailblazing Mayor’s Stunning Downfall
Sheng Thao’s journey from community activist to barrier-breaking mayor to recalled and indicted politician is a staggering fall from grace. Once hailed as a progressive rising star, she now faces an uncertain fate and potential federal prosecution.
The coming days should provide more clarity on the nature and gravity of the charges Thao faces. But one thing is already certain – this scandalous coda ensures her mayoral tenure will be remembered more for how it ended than anything she achieved in office.
It’s a cautionary tale of how quickly political fortunes can change and how the highest heights often precede the steepest falls. For Sheng Thao, the promising mayor who made history, that fall from grace appears complete with this latest hammer blow of a federal indictment.
