{"id":2284816,"date":"2024-06-27T17:47:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-27T21:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-usps-is-involved-in-oakland-mayor-raid-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-06-27T17:51:25","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T21:51:25","slug":"why-usps-is-involved-in-oakland-mayor-raid-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-usps-is-involved-in-oakland-mayor-raid-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Why USPS is involved in Oakland mayor raid &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhy-usps-is-involved-in-oakland-mayor-raid-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2284816&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/movie-weapons-supervisor-waives-preliminary-hearing-in-fatal-shooting-by-alec-baldwin\/\" title=\"Movie Weapons Supervisor Waives Preliminary Hearing in Alec Baldwin's Fatal Shooting\">ongoing investigation surrounding<\/a> the FBI&#8217;s raid\u200b on Oakland \u200cMayor Sheng Thao&#8217;s home, highlighting the\u2062 involvement of\u2063 the U.S. Postal \u200bInspection Service.\u2063 This raid arises from claims related to postal fraud connected to unpaid debts for campaign mailers used during Thao\u2019s \u20632022 mayoral campaign. The mailers, which targeted Thao&#8217;s rivals,\u200c were funded by independent \u200dexpenditure account California Forward Now, with alleged backing by significant figures including Andrew Duong, linked to California Waste \u2063Solutions. \u200cThe funds for the \u200cmailers, provided by Mario Juarez to Butterfly Direct Marketing, resulted in bounced checks totaling $53,000, leaving the debt unpaid and accruing interest, which consequently caused financial and operational distress to the \u2063business \u2063involved. The complexity of the case\u200c is deepened by claims of illegal cooperation between Thao\u2019s campaign and the independent expenditure account, which are legally required to \u2063operate separately, raising serious questions about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-president-trump-gives-pardons-to-73-individuals-and-commutes-another-70-sentences-steve-bannon-is-included\/\" title=\"BREAKING: President Trump Gives Pardons to 73 Individuals and Commutes Another 70 Sentences \u2013 Steve Bannon Is Included\">campaign finance violations<\/a> and other related illegal activities.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The mystery surrounding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3053801\/fbi-raids-home-of-oakland-mayor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"the raid \">the raid <\/a>at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3055173\/key-players-fbi-raid-oakland-mayors-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"the raid \">Oakland, California, Mayor Sheng Thao\u2019s <\/a>home has continued to grow, including the role the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uspis.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"the raid \">U.S. Postal Inspection Service<\/a> had in it.<\/p>\n<p>While the Postal Inspection Service has remained quiet on why it carried out the raid in concert with the <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fbi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>FBI<\/a>, others close to the investigation are speaking up.<\/p>\n<p>The United States Postal Service\u2019s inspection division investigates crimes using the nation\u2019s mail system. The postal inspectors are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hypocrisy-trump-team-shows-videos-of-democrat-lawmakers-during-impeachment-trial\/\" title=\"\u2018Hypocrisy:\u2019 Trump Team Shows Videos of Democrat Lawmakers During Impeachment Trial\">federal law enforcement officers<\/a> who carry firearms, make arrests, executive federal search warrants, and serve subpoenas. There are more than 1,200 inspectors that are tasked with enforcing 200 federal laws involving crimes in connection with the country\u2019s postal system.<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao becomes emotional while speaking to the media during a press conference on Monday, June 24, 2024, at Oakland City Hall in Oakland, California. Monday\u2019s statement was the first by Thao after federal authorities raided her home last week. (AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3061135\/republicans-will-make-up-debate-viewers-than-democrats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ONE PARTY WILL MAKE UP MORE OF THE ESTIMATED 70 MILLION DEBATE VIEWERS THAN THE OTHER: POLL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In Thao\u2019s case, the USPS is purportedly owed tens of thousands of dollars after delivering campaign mailers that aimed to benefit Thao when she was running for mayor in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Samari\u00a0Johnson, owner of Butterfly Direct Marketing, a direct mailing agency in Oakland, said the company received an order to print 170,000 attack mailers targeting Thao\u2019s mayoral rivals Ignacio De La Fuente and Loren Taylor.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/sanfrancisco\/news\/postage-still-owed-on-mailers-supporting-sheng-thao-during-oakland-mayoral-race\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"CBS News Bay Area \">CBS News Bay Area <\/a>that longtime customer Mario Juarez put in the order a few weeks before the November general election.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson said Juarez gave him $31,200 for the order and also gave him three checks to give to the USPS.<\/p>\n<p>After the mailers went out, Johnson said all of the checks, totaling $53,000, bounced.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, with interest, he has been saddled with a $60,000 bill from the USPS.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s been very heartbreaking, very disturbing, very emotional,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cThe USPS put a postal stop on my business direct mail permit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He said his permit remains suspended.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3060584\/what-voters-searching-for-2024-election\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HERE\u2019S WHAT VOTERS ARE SEARCHING FOR AHEAD OF THE 2024 ELECTION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The fine print on the mailers said they were funded by Juarez and California Forward Now, his independent expenditure account. A closer look into who the donors were behind the account showed Juarez failed to file any paperwork to identify the donors, a violation of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/march-for-our-lives-issue-biden-1-billion-list-of-gun-control-policy-demands\/\" title=\"March For Our Lives Issue Biden  Billion List Of Gun Control Policy Demands\">campaign finance laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Renia Webb, Thao\u2019s former chief of staff who worked on her mayoral campaign, told CBS News that Andrew Duong, whose family owns California Waste Solutions, a recycling company that has a lucrative contract with the city, paid Juarez to go after Thao\u2019s rivals.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe post office is involved with this investigation because it was mail fraud with them using the funding to get those flyers sent out,\u201d Webb told the\u00a0television station.<\/p>\n<p>Webb added that she had direct knowledge of one meeting between Thao, Duong, and Juarez.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAndy was like, \u2018Yeah, I need to talk to you about something,&#8217;\u201d Webb said. \u201cAnd Mario was like, \u2018Yeah, I need some more money.\u2019\u00a0That was his exact words.\u00a0And he and Sheng and Mario went off to the corner right outside of Seabreeze where the Jack London (cabin) is. And they stood right there and talked maybe for about 15 minutes. I know that they\u2019re not supposed to be doing that. During campaigns, the campaign and that I.E. account are never supposed to work together. They\u2019re supposed to be two separate total entities.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>FBI agents raid a home on Maiden Lane where Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao allegedly lives on Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Oakland, California. (Jessica Christian\/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> has not independently verified the claims that the USPS participated in the raids due to the mailers.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to raiding Thao\u2019s home, the FBI and USPS secured warrants to search the homes of Duong and his father, David, the president of California Waste Solutions. Multiple members of the Duong family led a third raid at offices shared by the company and the Vietnamese American Business Association.<\/p>\n<p>The FBI and USPS have remained quiet on the reason for the raids, but there have been allegations that the Duongs have injected themselves into city, state, and national politics for quite some time and have tried to buy influence and power.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this week, Thao\u2019s newly hired attorney resigned after the mayor held a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3057102\/oakland-mayor-done-nothing-wrong-fbi-raid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"press conference\">press conference<\/a> declaring her innocence without informing him.\u00a0Tony Brass was retained as Thao\u2019s counsel after her home was raided.<\/p>\n<p>During that news\u00a0conference, Thao implied, without providing any evidence, that the raid was connected to a recall effort against her. She also said \u201cradical right-wing forces\u201d\u00a0and a \u201chandful of billionaires\u201d\u00a0from the San Francisco Bay area and Piedmont, a small city in Alameda County, were \u201chell-bent\u201d on removing her from office.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER \">CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Thao has vowed not to resign. She is also facing a recall in November. <\/p>\n<p>If voters recall Thao, Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas would serve as interim mayor. The area\u2019s election office would have 120 days to set up a special election to elect a new mayor.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The intrigue deepens over the raid at Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao&#8217;s home, particularly the U.S. Postal Inspection Service&#8217;s involvement alongside the FBI. Despite the Postal Inspection Service&#8217;s silence on their reasons, insiders are beginning to share details<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2284817,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Sheng-Thao-press-conference.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[33099,7952,11330,32076],"class_list":["post-2284816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-oakland-mayor","tag-raid","tag-usps","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Sheng-Thao-press-conference.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2284816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2284816"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2284816\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2284817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2284816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2284816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2284816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}