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Orange County supervisors urge DOJ to review plea deal for former supervisor Andrew Do
Summary
After public testimony from Vietnamese‑American community members, the Orange County Board voted 4–1 to ask the U.S. Department of Justice to review and reassess the plea agreement and sentencing recommendation in United States v. Andrew Do. The board said it also expects further investigation of others involved.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors on April 22 adopted a resolution asking the U.S. Department of Justice to review the plea agreement and sentencing recommendation in United States v. Andrew Do and to advance any related investigations.
The resolution, introduced by Supervisor Nguyen and seconded on the floor, followed nearly an hour of public comment from community members who said the five‑year plea deal did not match the harm they described. Calvin, a speaker from the Vietnamese community, told the board, “We need the Department of Justice to hear us,” and urged supervisors to use their voices on behalf of constituents. Another commenter said the plea deal represented a betrayal of trust and asked for stronger accountability.
Supporters said the resolution is a way for the county to register concern and to ask federal authorities to take another look. Supervisor Sarmiento said recently disclosed information about the plea discussions and communications after the fact had changed his view and warranted additional scrutiny. Opponents cautioned the board against second‑guessing prosecutorial decisions and judges. Supervisor Wagner said it was “not procedurally appropriate for us to throw against the wall all of these cases” and expressed concern about comparing disparate pleas and sentences without full context.
Clerk roll call recorded Supervisor Wynne, Vice Chair Foley, Supervisor Armiento and Chair Chaffee voting yes and Supervisor Wagner voting no; the motion carried 4–1. The resolution directs county counsel to send a formal letter to the U.S. attorney general requesting the review and also notes the board’s intention to pursue appropriate legal action or other input (including the possibility of an amicus brief or a victim impact statement) as proceedings continue.
The action follows months of community concern about alleged misuse of pandemic‑era resources tied to the former supervisor’s conduct. The board did not specify a timetable for county counsel’s letter; the U.S. Department of Justice determines whether to open or expand an inquiry.
