Xavier Becerra accused of breaking campaign finance laws all while he accepts $500k from big oil

Former Biden cabinet secretary and California gubernatorial frontrunner Xavier Becerra is facing scrutiny on two separate fronts — an anonymous complaint accusing him of violating California campaign finance laws and a fresh $500,000 boost from a major oil producer backing his run for governor.The two issues are unrelated, and there is no allegation that accepting oil industry money violated campaign finance law.But the developments have intensified attacks on Becerra from rivals already seeking to paint the former attorney general as too close to corporate interests as the June primary nears.The campaign finance controversy centers on allegations that Becerra improperly used a dormant attorney general campaign account after leaving office to join former President Joe Biden’s administration as secretary of Health and Human Services, the Sacramento Bee reported.

Becerra’s inactive attorney general campaign committee allegedly paid more than $74,000 to longtime adviser Dana Williamson’s firm, Grace Public Affairs, between January 2021 and December 2022 — after Becerra had already left state office, according to a complaint submitted to California’s Fair Political Practices Commission.Williamson, who faced a 23-count federal indictment, pleaded guilty to federal fraud and tax charges after reaching a deal with prosecutors. Becerra has not been accused of wrongdoing but has faced political scrutiny over the scandal while leading the California governor’s race.Under California’s Political Reform Act, campaign funds are considered “surplus” once a candidate leaves office and can only be used for limited purposes, including paying debts, charitable donations, party activities, or complying with campaign finance rules.Becerra previously said the payments were intended to ensure the committee complied with campaign finance laws and said he did not know the expenditures were allegedly improper.The complaint comes as Becerra is also drawing renewed c...