Dear Orange County GOP – when your intrepid blogger files an FPPC Complaint, it gets results. Several OCGOP members at the time had been falsely claiming the complaint I filed against Bill Brough was a political attack and a campaign stunt. I won’t hold my breath waiting for an apology.
While the OCGOP did do the unthinkable and abandon Brough playing a major role in him losing his primary to Laurie Davies, your intrepid blogger received reports for the ensuing four years about Brough protesting his innocence. Said reports included several within the OCGOP sphere enabling him and amplifying his attacks on the voracity of your intrepid blogger.
Please note that every complaint I filed in 2018-2020 got results. Travis Allen got fined, now Brough, and some local loser candidate in Roseville, Rene Aguilera got a warning letter. All three lost their respective races. (Take notes Janet Nguyen)
Please see the Official Notice I got from the FPPC: (FYI – the FPPC, Fair Political Practices Commission, is the California Campaign Finance Watchdog agency)
On April 27, 2023, the above-named respondents entered into a payment plan and mainline settlement agreement with the Enforcement Division for seven counts involving personal use/appropriation of campaign funds/assets, plus three recordkeeping counts. For these 10 counts, the agreed-upon penalty was to be $47,000.1
The payment plan called for an initial down payment in the amount of $7,500—with the remainder to be paid over seven monthly installments. Upon full payment, the proposed mainline settlement was to be presented to the Commission for its consideration in December 2023 (or as soon thereafter as the matter could be agendized).2
Bill Brough appears to have continued his pattern of financial malfeasance. The FPPC gave him a chance to pay a $47,000 fine if he made agreed upon installments, but Brough failed to make them:
The payment plan included a waiver of rights in case respondents failed to make their required installment payments by the monthly deadlines specified in the agreement. This included a waiver of respondents’ rights to a probable cause conference and administrative hearing—for the purpose of allowing the Commission to enter a default decision and order against the respondents.3
(SNIP)
Under the payment plan, respondents made their initial down payment in the amount of $7,500— but respondents have failed to make all of their required installment payments, to date. These were required to be made at the rate of $5,000 per month, beginning in May 2023. This matter now comes before the Commission as a default proceeding.
The part I snipped out described how if Brough failed to make his payments, the FPPC could pile on additional charges and jack the fines up to $5,000 per offense. Brough also waived all his rights and then he still welched on the deal!
Respondents Bill Brough, Bill Brough State Assembly 2018 (I.D. No. 1392528), and Bill Brough State Assembly 2020 (I.D. No. 1415006) violated the Political Reform Act as described in Exhibit 1, which is incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. Exhibit 1 is a true and accurate summary of the law and evidence in this matter—and is supported by various affidavits and records, which have been marked and submitted as Exhibits A, A-1 through A-26, and B through D. This Default Decision and Order is submitted to the Commission for final disposition of this matter.
So guess what? Your intrepid blogger filed against every committee Brough had and it appears all the complaints were validated. But wait, there’s more:
The Commission issues this Default Decision and Order, imposing an administrative penalty in the total amount of $90,000 against respondents Bill Brough, Bill Brough State Assembly 2018 (I.D. No. 1392528), and Bill Brough State Assembly 2020 (I.D. No. 1415006). Of this amount, respondents Bill Brough and his 2018 committee are jointly and severally liable for $42,000 (Counts 8-9 and 11-18); respondents Bill Brough and his 2020 committee are jointly and severally liable for $13,000 (Counts 10 and 19-20); and respondent Bill Brough is individually liable for the remainder, totaling $35,000 (Counts 1-7).
In partial satisfaction of the foregoing default penalty, respondents are to receive a credit in the amount of $7,500 for the initial down payment that respondents made under the payment plan/waiver agreement.
Pursuant to Government Code section 89513, subdivisions (c)(1)(B)(i) and (ii), campaign funds may not be used to pay the penalty imposed for Counts 1 through 6 (totaling $30,000) because each of those counts involves personal use of campaign funds that resulted in substantial personal benefits to Brough, and the expenditures were not reasonably—nor directly related to any political, legislative, or governmental purposes.
The entire penalty is payable to the “General Fund of the State of California.”
Ladies and gentlemen, it was a good thing Bill Brough got run out of office. I am personally offended that the Sacramento County DA did not prosecute Mr. Brough for what I believed to be credible allegations of rape against him, but this complete demolition of him by the FPPC is a consolation prize.
Click this link to see the entire document from the FPPC related to Bill Brough.
Linked here is a summary blog your intrepid blogger wrote after our total demolition of Bill Brough in 2018. 40 Posts in all!
More specifically, blogs and stories about the FPPC Complaints below:
I amended the complaint to add even more to it after OC Register Coverage, and highlighted several stories quoting your intrepid blogger.
Park said he believes he helped Brough get elected to a first term in the 73rd Assembly District after he publicized information about one of Brough’s opponents. Now, as claims mount about Brough’s campaign finances and allegations that he’s made unwanted sexual advances against several women, Park said he feels a “sense of duty” to help get him out of office.
“He turned out to not be who he said he was,” Park said. “He needs to go now.”
I will close with these words from 2018:
Bill Brough is in serious trouble. There is a full blown state level investigation in to his sexual misconduct. The FPPC has nearly 250 pages of documentation from your intrepid blogger that they are combing through as the web of Bill Brough’s personal life and abuse of campaign funds is becoming clear.
$90,000 in fines.
