SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Diya TV) — California Attorney General Rob Bonta has spent nearly $500,000 from his reelection campaign on legal services connected to a federal bribery investigation in the East Bay. The payments come as multiple sources say Bonta is once again considering a run for governor, despite announcing earlier this year that he would not enter the 2026 race.
Campaign finance records show that Bonta’s 2026 reelection committee paid $468,228 to the law firm Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati in February. The payments were made just two days before Bonta said he would seek another term as attorney general instead of running for governor.
The campaign reported the payments as spending for “professional services (legal, accounting).” The records show the money came from Bonta’s campaign account, which held about $6.2 million as of October.
Dan Newman, a senior adviser to Bonta, confirmed that the payments are tied to the federal bribery probe involving former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the Duong family. The investigation became public in January. While several individuals were charged, Bonta was not among them.
After the investigation surfaced, Bonta returned $155,000 in campaign donations that came from the Duong family. Newman said in a statement that Bonta brought on outside counsel in connection with the broader East Bay investigation. He said the attorney general wants to ensure that “anyone who committed a crime is held accountable.”
Newman did not say how much of the nearly $500,000 was used for Bonta’s own legal preparation and how much supported investigators in the case. Bonta has never publicly stated that he would use campaign funds to assist with the investigation.
A spokesperson for Wilson Sonsini did not respond to repeated requests for comment. The firm is known for representing major tech companies, startups, and clients facing government investigations and white-collar criminal cases.
Because the investigation is ongoing, Bonta’s team said it could not provide additional details.
The legal spending comes as three sources familiar with Bonta’s plans say the attorney general is again weighing a run for governor. The sources, who requested anonymity, said Bonta has discussed the idea with consultants and political allies over the past week.
The political firm Bearstar Strategies is also considering Bonta as a potential candidate, the sources said. Bearstar managed statewide campaigns for Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Gov. Jerry Brown, and Vice President Kamala Harris. The firm has struggled to find a candidate for the 2026 governor’s race after Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis chose to run for state treasurer and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla decided to remain in Congress. Bearstar did not respond to inquiries about its interest in Bonta. Newman declined to comment on Bonta’s potential candidacy.
On Oct. 28, KCRA 3 asked Bonta whether he intended to stay out of the governor’s race. Bonta said serving as attorney general was a privilege. He spoke at a news conference announcing litigation against President Donald Trump.
“This is the most important moment in the most important job I’ve ever had,” he said.
Bonta’s next campaign filing will show whether he continues to spend significant funds on legal services. The investigation and his potential shift toward a gubernatorial run will likely draw heightened attention as the 2026 election cycle approaches. The developments create new questions about Bonta’s political future and the ongoing federal probe that has already reshaped Oakland’s leadership and raised concerns across California’s political landscape.
