Amid a growing corruption probe, one of the most prominent Democratic Party officials in California has resigned.
Melahati Rafiei, a top California Democratic Party leader accused of attempting to bribe officials in a federal corruption probe into Anaheim city leaders announced her resignation as secretary of the California Democratic Party and state representative to the Democratic National Committee.
A host of Orange County lawmakers and party leaders increasingly called for her resignation this week after news came out that she was arrested by the FBI in 2019.
Rafiei’s resignation comes just three years after she was reportedly arrested for bribery in 2019. She has rubbed shoulders with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on several occasions.
Melahat Rafiei announced her resignation from her elected roles as secretary of the #California Democratic Party and state representative to the @DNC as a result of a #Corruption investigation in #Anaheim. https://t.co/FCMKKl8ALY
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) May 24, 2022
Some are calling for Melahat Rafiei, former head of the #OrangeCounty Democratic Party and current secretary of the #California Democratic Party, to resign after it was revealed she was arrested by the @FBI on suspicion of bribing public officials in 2019. https://t.co/FoInod5oiZ
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) May 23, 2022
More details of this report from Conservative Brief:
One of the most prominent Democratic officials in California has resigned amid a growing corruption probe.
Melahat Rafiei announced she is resigning from her position as the secretary of the California Democratic Party and State Representative to the Democratic National Committee.
“In a letter posted on social media, Rafiei said she was a confidential witness in the FBI probe of the proposed sale of Angel Stadium and that she resigned from her post, saying the controversy over her role had become a hindrance,” Fox 11 Los Angeles reported.
“Rafiei had been under increasing scrutiny to quit after reports recently surfaced that she had been arrested by the FBI in 2019 for an alleged bribery scheme. She has not been charged,” the outlet added.
California Democratic Party secretary Melahat Rafiei has resigned her state and national positions after being implicated in an ongoing probe of alleged bribery in negotiations between the city of Anaheim and the Los Angeles Angels over a stadium. https://t.co/AM87lWp1KM
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) May 23, 2022
Here’s what The Voice of OC reported:
Melahat Rafiei, a longtime leader in Orange County’s Democratic Party, resigned Sunday night from her position as secretary of the California Democratic Party and state representative to the Democratic National Committee.
A host of Orange County lawmakers and party leaders increasingly called for her resignation this week after news came out that she was arrested by the FBI in 2019.
According to an affidavit from FBI special agent Brian Adkins, Rafiei was arrested on attempted bribery after federal agents allege she told a cannabis company that hired her she planned on bribing two Irvine City Councilmembers in exchange for favorable legislation in the city.
Rafiei previously identified herself as CW1 in the affidavit, while the cannabis company employees are identified as CHS1 and CHS2.
“CW1 began to devise a scheme whereby CW1 would solicit money from CHS1 and CHS2 with the intention of paying bribes to two elected members of the Irvine City Council in exchange for the Council Members performing official acts, resulting in the passage of favorable cannabis laws,” states the affidavit.
Breaking: Melahat Rafiei on Sunday night resigned from her elected roles with the Democratic National Committee and as secretary for the California Democratic Party, as fallout from the corruption investigation in Anaheim continues.
https://t.co/xw5CqlNFrK— Brooke E. Staggs (@JournoBrooke) May 23, 2022
Sources: WLT, The Voice of OC, Conservative Brief
