California Governor Gavin Newsom has ignited a political firestorm after his press office issued a crude, sexually-tinged retort to a conservative commentator who pledged to investigate alleged widespread fraud in the state.
MAGA Influencer Targets 'Fraud Capital'
Benny Johnson, a prominent MAGA influencer, declared on Tuesday his intention to travel to California with a team to probe what he described as systemic financial mismanagement. Johnson claimed the situation in the Golden State surpasses recent fraud uncovered in Minnesota, which he said 'led to the destruction' of Governor Tim Walz's career.
'The American taxpayer needs to see first-hand how criminal California fraud is robbing our nation blind,' Johnson posted on social media platform X.
He cited a litany of alleged abuses, including $70 billion in lost taxpayer funds, $24 billion spent on 'non-existent' homelessness programmes, and $18 billion allocated to a stalled high-speed rail project. Johnson further alleged that $32.6 billion in COVID-19 relief funds had been 'stolen' and pointed to billions spent on rebuilding after the Palisades fires with few homes constructed.
Newsom's Controversial Counterattack
In response, the Democratic governor's press office opted for mockery over detailed rebuttal. 'We'll make sure Grindr servers are ready…' the official account posted, referencing the popular gay dating application.
The bizarre quip was swiftly condemned across social media, with critics accusing Newsom, a longtime supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, of hypocrisy and juvenile behaviour. 'Newsom backed so far in a corner defending wasting taxpayer money his office is now making gay jokes on Twitter,' one user remarked. Another asked, 'Why does their sexual orientation matter?'
The remark was seen as a pointed barb at Johnson, who last month threatened to sue provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos for accusing him of being gay. Johnson is married with four children.
Mounting Scrutiny and Official Pushback
The controversy unfolded as former President Donald Trump amplified the fraud allegations on his Truth Social platform, announcing 'The Fraud Investigation of California has begun.' Simultaneously, federal prosecutor Bill Essayli indicated that additional fraud charges related to the state's homeless spending were expected soon.
Newsom's office has pushed back against specific claims. In a statement addressing the $70 billion figure, they clarified that the State Auditor's 'high-risk' list flags programmes for oversight 'BEFORE potential fraud occurs' and does not cite current losses of that magnitude. The office also noted that California has prosecuted fraud vigorously, arresting 929 people and recovering $5.9 billion in unemployment fraud alone.
Johnson, undeterred, claimed to have received over 250 emails from state employees and officials with 'detailed fraud evidence' following his announcement, promising an 'epic' investigation.
The episode highlights the intensifying political battles over governance and spending in California, with the governor's unconventional response ensuring the story dominated headlines beyond the original allegations.
