FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Contact: Tracy La, tracy@vietrise.org

Little Saigon-Based Organizations’ Statement on the Resignation of Supervisor Andrew Do

LITTLE SAIGON, ORANGE COUNTY, CA — VietRISE, the Harbor Institute for Immigrant and Economic Justice, and the Orange County Justice Fund, nonprofit organizations dedicated to empowering and improving the lives of immigrant communities in Little Saigon, respond to OC Supervisor Andrew Do’s resignation and guilty plea announced today:

“Andrew Do’s resignation is a necessary but insufficient response to the rampant corruption he has perpetuated while in office. Do represents the worst of our elected officials: corrupt, greedy, and using his political position to enrich himself off the suffering of the most vulnerable in our community. While seniors lost their lives to the pandemic or spent months worrying about their next meal, Do exploited this crisis and took over $550,000 in bribes to divert millions in COVID relief funds meant to support seniors to himself, his family, and his inner circle. 

Admitting guilt and resigning from his position is just the first step. While we are encouraged by new state laws tightening the disclosure of how the Board of Supervisors spends public money, we call for restitution of the misappropriated funds to support the community it was meant to serve. Community members have lost their savings, their livelihoods, and their homes. Orange County residents deserve real justice for the harm Andrew Do and his conspirators have caused. Do did not do this alone.”

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