Melahat Rafiei, the secretary of the California Democratic Party, has resigned her state and national roles after being implicated in an ongoing investigation into suspected bribery in stadium discussions between the city of Anaheim and the Los Angeles Angels.
Rafiei is also stepping down as a member of the Democratic National Committee after being accused of attempting to bribe public officials in a growing federal corruption investigation. She did not reply to a request for comment on Sunday, but in the letter, she recognized that she was a confidential witness in the FBI investigation into the proposed $320 million sale of Angel Stadium property.
Federal investigators suspect there was fraud, bribery, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and other misconduct in the planned sale discussions between Anaheim and the Angels, according to a court filing.
Rafiei is also stepping down as a member of the Democratic National Committee after being accused of attempting to bribe public officials in a growing federal corruption investigation. She did not reply to a request for comment on Sunday, but in the letter, she recognized that she was a confidential witness in the FBI investigation into the proposed $320 million sale of Angel Stadium property.
Federal investigators suspect there was fraud, bribery, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and other misconduct in the planned sale discussions between Anaheim and the Angels, according to a court filing.
After the FBI labeled him as the suspected perpetrator of multiple crimes during the discussions, the city’s mayor, Harry Sidhu, is facing rising calls to resign. The document makes no allegations against Angels owner Arte Moreno or his Major League Baseball team.
Rafiei was detained in 2019 on counts of theft or bribery involving federal funds tied to a cannabis conspiracy, according to court records released last week.
Corruption has long been an issue in California Democratic Party politics, both at the state and municipal levels, because the party’s control of government has provided chances for personal wealth. Many candidates in 2022 promise to clean up their neighborhoods, both physically and symbolically, in terms of homelessness and crime and corruption.
