FBI raids home of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao amid recall effort

The FBI raided a home on Thursday belonging to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, who is currently facing a recall effort due to rising crime rates and budgetary concerns in the liberal city.

The movement to remove Thao as mayor less than two years into her first term has gained enough traction to place the recall effort on the ballot in November. The movement needed 25,000 valid signatures and secured 40,000.

The bureau raided a total of three homes on Thursday, including the homes of the politically influential Duong family, who have allegedly contributed to Thao's campaign and the campaigns of other city council members. The family owns the recycling company Cal Waste Solutions, according to the Associated Press.

The Duong family's firm has been investigated over an alleged money-laundering scheme, but the FBI refused to comment whether the raid was connected to that investigation.

“The FBI conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity on Maiden Lane in Oakland this morning. We are unable to provide additional information at this time,” the bureau said in a statement.

The federal agents were seen carrying boxes out of Thao's home on Thursday morning, but it is not clear what was seized or why.

A staffer for Cal Waste Solutions told CBS News that the firm was cooperating with the law enforcement activities, and that the firm was "confident the government will conclude that they are not involved in anything unlawful." No one from the mayor's office has commented on the raid so far.

The raid comes after Oakland witnessed an increase in violent crime throughout 2023, and a surge in retail theft. Oakland residents have also lambasted the mayor over her delay in hiring a replacement for former police chief LeRonne Armstrong. The process of replacing Armstrong took more than one year.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.