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It’s been a thrilling summer in Orange County with an abundance of scandal and drama, and none more tantalizing than the ongoing revelations about Michelle Steel’s corruption during her tenure as county supervisor.
First detailed by an OC Grand Jury, then lambasted by the LA Times, the stakes have only climbed for Steel after the state Coastal Commission has formally intervened. The Commission this week formally called for the county to reclaim the land at the center of the ongoing drama.
A BRIEF REFRESHER ON STEEL’S CORRUPTION: When a wealthy campaign donor attempted to purchase a parcel of public land from Orange County for pennies on the dollar to increase his home value, Steel circumvented regulations and procedures meant to ensure transparency to help him do it.
After Steel refused to notify the public of the intended deal, concerned residents who learned about the deal by word of mouth gathered over a thousand signatures to stop it.
The OC Grand Jury concluded that Steel’s influence led to a staff report in favor of the deal that contained “conclusory, incomplete, and inaccurate statements” and ultimately allowed Steel’s wealthy campaign donor to inappropriately privatize Orange County public land and violate public trust.
And that’s not all: next week, Steel is scheduled to attend a “Victory Rally” at the home of the very same donor she attempted to give the public land away to.
DCCC Spokesperson Maddy Mundy
“Whether in Orange County or in Congress, Michelle Steel has always used her position of power to protect the wealthy and well-connected, all the while leaving the working families of Orange County behind.”
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