Bay Area

Oakland Mayor’s Team is Jumping Ship: Personal Attorney, Chief of Communications Resigns Following FBI Raids

Mayor Sheng Thao’s Chief of Communications Francis Zamora announced his resignation from her administration Tuesday morning, following Thao’s attorney withdrawing representation Monday afternoon. The mayor’s office sent out a brief statement where Zamora thanked his colleagues for their dedication and professionalism. He had worked for Thao’s office for less than a year before this announcement.

Published

2 years ago

July 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Mayor Sheng Thao.

By Magaly Muñoz

Mayor Sheng Thao’s Chief of Communications Francis Zamora announced his resignation from her administration Tuesday morning, following Thao’s attorney withdrawing representation Monday afternoon.

The mayor’s office sent out a brief statement where Zamora thanked his colleagues for their dedication and professionalism. He had worked for Thao’s office for less than a year before this announcement.

“It was an honor to serve the City of Oakland beside them,” he said.

Zamora did not share any additional details on why he is choosing to leave the mayor’s team, but it does come only days after Thao’s home was raided by the FBI last Thursday.

“Francis was a valuable member of the team whose contributions are greatly valued and appreciated. I thank him for his service and wish him well,” Thao said in a statement.

Pati Navalta, who previously held the now vacant communications position, will step in as interim chief of communications until a new person is hired.

The mayor has had a tumultuous week following the raid on her home, along with three other residences, with no explanation provided by the FBI. The other properties are owned the Duong family, who are currently the focus of an Oakland Public Ethics Commission investigation on political money laundering.

Bay Area defense attorney Anthony Brass, who Thao hired to represent her after the raids, also announced that he was withdrawing from her legal team.

Brass confirmed his withdrawal with the Post but did not elaborate on his decision to leave.

In an interview with CBS Monday evening, Brass told reporters that he and Thao had “very different approaches or different philosophies about how to proceed” with her case.

Apparently, Brass had not even known that Thao was addressing the press that morning. Brass himself had spoken to reporters last Friday afternoon, assuring the public that Thao has “nothing to hide.”

At the time, neither Brass nor the mayor had any iknowledge that she was the target of the FBI investigation. Thao echoed similar statements at her press conference on Monday.

In less than a week, Thao has had her administration, and possibly her legacy, turned upside down. She’s not only juggling this crisis, but the city is also up in flames over the large budget deficit, the recent shooting at Lake Merritt on Juneteenth, and her upcoming recall election in November.

The optics are not favoring Thao, considering her former chief of staff is also coming out and alleging that the mayor’s office engaged in pay-for-play schemes in her tenure.

Renia Webb worked for Thao during her time as an Oakland City Councilmember and was with her briefly after she won the mayoral election in 2022. She told CBS that she was not surprised to see the FBI investigating Thao and has called on Thao to resign following the incident.

Webb is also being interviewed by the FBI.

Thao’s opponents have not wavered in using recent events to prove that she is not fit for office and must be removed.

Since Thursday, multiple groups and residents have called on Thao to resign and save the city the trouble and money to put the recall on the ballot. Opponents are alleging corruption and mismanagement of the city by several city leaders aside from Thao, such as Council President Nikki Fortunato-Bas and Carroll Fife.

Thao stated that she would not be bullied out of her position and will fight against anyone who is attempting to oust her.