California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter found herself under scrutiny on Monday after accusing her competitor Tom Steyer of leaking a damaging video, while also cautioning that Xavier Becerra could be a liability for Democrats in the state’s jungle primary.
During an interview on CNN’s “Inside Politics,” Porter claimed to host Dana Bash, “Given that Tom Steyer was behind the leak of the video of me and my staff five years ago, it seems pretty clear he wants to be governor enough to undermine me.” Bash concluded the segment by emphasizing that CNN had not verified Porter’s allegations regarding Steyer.
“It’s crucial to point out that we have no evidence Steyer leaked your video,” Bash stated, urging Porter to provide anything she might have to back up her claims.
Porter accused Steyer of being involved in a leaked video from years past that depicted him in a negative light during a confrontation with a staffer, claiming he was informed that the footage originated from the Department of Energy.
Following the interview, Sepi Esfahrani, a spokesperson for Steyer’s campaign, refuted Porter’s accusations, suggesting she was attempting to divert attention from her own controversies. “Tom has nothing to do with that video,” Esfahrani remarked, calling Porter’s statements a means to distract from her past failures.
In the same conversation, Porter also criticized Becerra, the former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and California’s Attorney General, casting doubt on his integrity related to an ongoing corruption investigation involving his former campaign funds.
“The fact is, Secretary Becerra can’t assure Californians that he won’t be implicated in this corruption charge,” Porter asserted.
Bash pressed Porter about Becerra’s repeated denials of wrongdoing, prompting a question about whether Porter believed Becerra was innocent. Porter remained cautious, expressing that the situation remains too murky for voters to overlook. “I don’t have all the facts, but those who are negotiating plea deals in Sacramento likely do,” she mentioned, implying that if Becerra were to be implicated, prosecution might follow.
Porter contended that the California Democratic Party shouldn’t nominate a candidate who could face future legal issues. “If Becerra ends up in the top two alongside Steve Hilton, we could very well have a Republican governor,” she added.
A spokesperson for Becerra called Porter’s statements unfounded, asserting that federal investigations have already cleared him of any wrongdoing. “Katie Porter is just reaching for anything,” the spokeswoman said.
As the interview wrapped up, Bash extended an invitation to Becerra to respond directly, suggesting he was welcome to return to the show.
California’s top-two primary system means that the two candidates with the most votes will proceed to November, regardless of party affiliation. With the Democratic field being crowded, there are concerns that the party could be left out in the primary.
