California Governor Gavin Newsom Accused of Secretly Funding His Own Monument

A Controversial Bust in San Francisco City Hall

California Governor Gavin Newsom has found himself at the center of a new controversy, as a recently released book alleges that he secretly arranged and funded a bronze bust of himself inside San Francisco’s City Hall during his tenure as mayor. The book, titled Fool’s Gold: The Radicals, Con Artists, and Traitors Who Killed the California Dream and Now Threaten Us All, written by Susan Crabtree and Jedd McFatter, details how Newsom reportedly used funds under his control to commission the monument. The bust was ostensibly meant to commemorate his time as mayor, but the way it was funded has raised questions about transparency and ethics.

According to the book, Newsom feigned ignorance about the identity of the private donors who allegedly funded the bust, as well as uncertainty about its design. This claim has sparked scrutiny, as it appears Newsom may have misled the public about the origins of the funding. While other mayors have also been honored with busts in City Hall, the allega