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On his campaign website, CA-13 congressional candidate John Duarte claims, “when you’re in the orchard, there is no choice but to be accountable.” New reporting from the Modesto Bee reveals John Duarte is anything but:
Unlike many of the small farms that make up the San Joaquin Valley, multi-millionaire John Duarte owns one of the largest nurseries in the country. While Duarte campaigns on his credentials as a farmer, privately, Duarte has been embroiled in a years-long court battle after deceiving small farmers and costing them nearly $9 million in damages by selling diseased crops “under false pretenses.”
Despite his culpability, Duarte stated he would not offer monetary compensation for the damage caused by his deceit, claiming he had “no cash to give growers.” All the while, Duarte boosted his campaign for Congress by self-funding to the tune of nearly half a million dollars.
DCCC Spokesperson Maddy Mundy:
“John Duarte campaigns as a local farmer who understands the issues Valley residents face. In reality, he is a bankrupt Goliath who cost small farmers millions by intentionally deceiving them. San Joaquin Valley families deserve a champion in Congress – not a greedy conman like John Duarte.”
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