Understanding the Corruption Trial of Oakland’s Former Mayor Sheng Thao
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao speaks during a rally against her recall at Pacific Renaissance Plaza in Oakland on Oct. 15, 2024 (Beth LaBerge/KQED)
Airdate: Tuesday, October 10, 2026 at 9 AM
The long-awaited federal corruption trial of former Oakland mayor Sheng Thao kicked off last week, with prosecutors arguing that Thao put her power up for sale and defense attorneys attacking the credibility of key government witnesses. It’s been nearly two years since a federal grand jury indicted Thao and three codefendants in an alleged “pay to play” scheme. Thao — alongside her former romantic partner Andre Jones, California Waste Solutions CEO David Duong and his son, Andy Duong — have pleaded not guilty to charges that include bribery and conspiracy. We’ll talk about the alleged scheme, how the case is unfolding and what to expect from the six-week trial.
Guests:
- Alex Hall, enterprise and accountability reporter. KQED
- Robert Weisberg, law professor and co-director of Criminal Justice Center, Stanford Law School
- Davina Hurt, government ethics director of The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University; former mayor of Belmont