Congressman Ro Khanna raged at billions in alleged fraud in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s California when he known as for a full audit of state spending seemingly aimed on the governor’s management.
The Silicon Valley Democrat boosted claims of billions in fraud in California on X and vowed to carry congressional hearings on waste and abuse of taxpayer {dollars} within the state — sparking a spat with Newsom’s sassy spokesperson Izzy Gardon, who defended California’s exorbitant Excessive Pace Rail mission that’s broadly thought of a boondoggle.
Khanna is outwardly mulling a presidential run, like Newsom who mentioned he’s “contemplating” a run in 2028.
“At this time, I’m asserting that in 2026 I will likely be engaged on a bipartisan foundation on Oversight to request hearings on state governments’ excessive danger applications, together with California, which have led to unlawful funds and eligibility errors,” Khanna wrote on X Tuesday.
“I additionally will work on laws to name for a full unbiased audit of California’s price range.”
Khanna known as for oversight following social media allegations of $72 billion value of fraud in California, a estimate that seems roughly extrapolated from state auditor stories pointing to dangers in applications just like the Employment Growth Division together with price overruns within the notorious Excessive Pace Rail mission, meant to ultimately join San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Khanna, who’s carved out a lane as a pro-business progressive, was excoriated by tech barons this week after voicing help for a proposed 5% wealth tax on billionaires.
“One honest critique is the dearth of accountability and the corruption in Sacramento,” Khanna conceded in a Saturday X put up earlier than calling Sacramento fraud “outrageous and appalling.”
“There must be full accountability for the waste and new management in Sacramento. Taxpayers are owed an accounting of the place each penny of their tax {dollars} are going — an in depth receipt,” Khanna continued.
Previous stories from the California State Auditor have highlighted issues in state authorities starting from as much as $31 billion value of pretend unemployment claims and thousands and thousands in unused cell telephones to an absence of antifraud controls within the state’s in depth homelessness spending.
Gardon known as the $72 billion a “MAGA made-up quantity” and boasted of “16,000 union jobs” from the long-delayed Excessive Pace Rail.
The Excessive Pace Rail was first permitted by voters in 2008 and early estimates pegged the mission at round $33 billion with service starting in 2020. Prices have since ballooned to $128 billion or extra, per Reuters, with service anticipated in 2033.
Whereas 60 “buildings” have been constructed and 171 miles are within the “design & development” phrase, in accordance with Newsom’s workplace, no observe has been laid. The state just lately dropped a lawsuit difficult the federal authorities’s revocation of $4 billion in funds for the Excessive Pace Rail, aiming to lift personal funding for the mission.
The Federal Railroad Administration issued a 315-page report in June describing Excessive Pace Rail price range shortfalls, missed deadlines and inaccurate ridership estimates.
