Bribery Trial of Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Begins
The federal bribery trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and three co-defendants has begun in Oakland. Prosecutors allege a quid pro quo scheme where campaign funding and a no-show job were exchanged for favorable treatment of businesses, while the…
San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, October 14, 2026 —
The federal bribery trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and three co-defendants has begun in Oakland, bringing competing accounts of an alleged exchange involving campaign funding, a job and favorable treatment for businesses before the court.
Prosecutors allege that campaign funding and a no-show job were exchanged for favorable treatment of businesses. The summary of the case does not identify the businesses, describe the treatment at issue or provide details about the alleged funding or job. It also does not specify the names of Thao’s three co-defendants.
The defense disputes the prosecution’s account, arguing that its case relies on unreliable testimony and describing the allegations as “pure fiction.” The trial will address the competing claims, but the information provided does not include further details about the testimony, the evidence or the defense’s specific arguments.
The case is a federal bribery trial, and the allegations remain allegations unless established through the proceedings. No trial date beyond the fact that it has begun was provided. The available information also does not identify the prosecutors, defense attorneys, charges in detail or any expected timeline for the trial.
With the proceedings underway in Oakland, the central dispute described so far is whether the alleged exchange occurred or whether the prosecution’s account depends on testimony the defense considers unreliable. Further specifics about the evidence and the court’s schedule were not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Steph Rodriguez on ww2.kqed.org, see more information here.
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