Feds Reportedly Make 'Inquiries' Over London Breed's Appointment of Supervisor Stephen Sherrill

"Johnston gave interviews to Mission Local and the SF Standard, and former aide and campaign manager Eric Kingsbury corroborated his statements, saying that Breed had been fairly explicit in saying that she was likely to appoint to Sherrill to fill the District 2 seat being vacated by Catherine Stefani as a favor to billionaire Michael Bloomberg, for whom Sherrill had worked."

"According to Johnston, he warned Breed about how this may look, and that it was "potentially illegal," but she said at the time that she needed to think about her financial future, and that the Bloomberg organization was going to "set [her] up" after she left the mayor's office, adding "I have a lot of expenses.""

"Breed did ultimately get a six-month stint at a Bloomberg-funded think tank in DC last year, which she discussed in a New York Times interview in January. But she denies that anything untoward occurred. "Yes, Mike Bloomberg is a friend, and he has been a thoughtful voice and mentor over the years, just as he has been for countless leaders and public servants across the country and the world," Breed said in a statement."

""But that is the extent of it. I don't work for Mayor Bloomberg. And I have always made my own decisions." But now, as the SF Standard reported late Friday, the FBI has apparently come calling, which may have been part of Johnston's intention all along. He was explicit in saying he wanted voters"

Conor Johnston, a former aide and confidante of London Breed, publicly accused Breed of signaling that she would appoint Stephen Sherrill to the Board of Supervisors as a favor to billionaire Michael Bloomberg. Johnston said he warned Breed that the arrangement could look improper and be potentially illegal, while Breed indicated she needed to consider her financial future and suggested the Bloomberg organization would support her after she left office. Johnston’s claims were corroborated by Eric Kingsbury, who said Breed was explicit about the likely appointment. Breed later received a six-month Bloomberg-funded think tank role in Washington, D.C., and denied any wrongdoing, stating she does not work for Bloomberg and makes her own decisions. The FBI reportedly contacted relevant parties, potentially connected to Johnston’s allegations.

Read at sfist.com