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Orange County supervisors urge DOJ to review plea and sentencing in former supervisor case; measure passes 4–1
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 to send a formal request to the U.S. Department of Justice to review the plea agreement and sentencing recommendation in the federal case involving former Supervisor Andrew Do, following public testimony from Vietnamese‑American community members and a divided board debate.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 on April 22 to adopt a resolution urging the U.S. Department of Justice to review the plea agreement and sentencing recommendation in United States v. Andrew Huang Do and to authorize County Counsel to send a formal letter to the U.S. Attorney General.
Supervisor Janet Nguyen moved the revised resolution and said the action was prompted by community concerns and newly disclosed information. Several Vietnamese‑American residents came to the dais to press the board for stronger action, arguing the sentence did not reflect the harm done to residents during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Calvin Quig Ngo told the board, “He broke the law. He broke our trust during the worst of COVID,” and asked supervisors to use their voice on behalf of constituents.
Supervisor Wagner opposed the resolution, arguing the board lacked sufficient information and should not second‑guess prosecutors and courts. Wagner questioned comparisons to other public‑corruption cases and cautioned the board against overreach, noting many procedural and evidentiary questions remain. Wagner said the matter is properly handled by prosecutors and the trial judge.
Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento and other supporters countered that new information about the plea warranted drawing national attention and that the resolution did not preclude parallel actions such as an amicus brief or a victim‑impact statement during sentencing. After debate and a clerk roll call, the motion carried 4–1; Supervisor Wagner was recorded as the sole no vote.
The resolution directs County Counsel to forward a formal request to the U.S. Attorney General to reassess the plea and sentencing recommendation and urges continued investigation and potential legal action against any other individuals or entities implicated. Board members said the county may still consider an amicus brief or victim‑impact statement at sentencing.
The board did not impose any local penalties or alter judicial proceedings; the resolution is a request that the DOJ review its prior recommendations and any related evidence. No additional charges were announced during the meeting. The board returned to its agenda after the vote.
