The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) confirmed on Wednesday that Governor Gavin Newsom has paid a $13,000 fine, which he had agreed to pay as part of a settlement for violating state political ethics rules. This fine relates to the failure of Newsom’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign committee to report millions in charitable donations made at his request, known as behested payments.
Under California law, elected officials are required to report major behested payments—those directed by them to third-party organizations—within 30 days, although there is no cap on the amount. However, the FPPC found that Newsom’s campaign committee failed to file 18 such reports on time between 2018 and 2024. The reports involved donations totaling $14 million from large corporations and foundations, including T-Mobile, Amazon, and Microsoft.
The FPPC approved the settlement on November 21 in a 4-1 vote, requiring Newsom to pay the $13,000 fine. While the commission found no indication that Newsom personally benefited from the donations, they emphasized the importance of timely reporting to avoid the perception of influence or undisclosed financial relationships.
FPPC Chairman Adam E. Silver, who was appointed by Newsom earlier this year, acknowledged the late reporting but noted that there was no significant public harm. He emphasized that the purpose of the disclosure requirement is to ensure transparency regarding payments that could potentially influence government decisions.
In response to the settlement, Newsom’s campaign spokesman Nathan Click stated that the Governor has consistently worked to connect private resources to public needs. Since 2011, Newsom’s office has filed over 1,100 reports, disclosing more than $300 million in donations to support governmental and charitable efforts, including over $100 million aimed at aiding public health and mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Click further explained that the delayed reports identified in the settlement were only a few weeks late and often due to delayed notification from the organizations receiving the donations.
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