Blog Exclusive to TheLiberalOC. Melahat has resigned from her roles with the State and National Party.
Dear Chair Harrison & Chair Hicks:
The events of the past few days, and years, have forced me to look inward to consider what I, my party, my state, and its people truly value. My first commitment has always been to the ideals and priorities of the Democratic Party. Knowing this, I must recognize that controversies created by sensationalist press reports about me have become a distraction from the important work of the party.
Those reports are largely speculative and often flat out wrong: I have never attempted to improperly influence any elected official, and I am certain the work I undertook to root out corruption was in the best interest of the people of this state and the Democratic Party. But I understand that controversy over my role is now a hindrance. My commitment to the party and its causes remains paramount. I will not let sensationalist press reports, rumor, and innuendo compromise the important work that must be done ahead of this election season. It is for these reasons, and these reasons alone, that with great regret, I now resign all positions within the California Democratic Party and Democratic National Committee.
Having committed myself for nearly a quarter century to the ideals, interests, and priorities of the Democratic Party, I take this step with great sadness. As an Iranian-American refugee, I used my voice and my platform to motivate, inspire, and support immigrant communities, the LGBTQ+ community, and women of color to ascend in a world in which we are still too often unseen, unheard, and underrepresented. For that reason, being an elected representative of the CDP and the DNC has been an incredible honor.
What began as grassroots advocacy led to my direct efforts on behalf of candidates, my service as the only woman of color to serve as Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Orange County, and my work as a successful political consultant with a track record for helping high quality candidates run, win, and serve. More recently I was honored to make history as the first Iranian-American elected to the DNC and as Secretary of the CDP. Achieving these leadership positions and elevating the platform for women of color in our party is something of which I am extraordinarily proud. My resignation from the CDP and DNC will change nothing about my commitment to the Democratic Party and the values we stand for.
It was, in fact, my dedication to these principles that led me to accept the request by federal investigators and prosecutors to serve as a cooperating witness in an ongoing investigation to uncover corruption among Republican operatives and elected officials in the city of Anaheim. I was not compelled to cooperate. Any assertions to the contrary are false. I chose to assist federal investigators and prosecutors out of a sense of duty and patriotism. If those individuals now named by federal prosecutors are, in fact, guilty of corruption and are brought to justice, I will be proud of the role I was willing to play despite what that role has now cost me. In the meantime, the rush to judgment that is all too prevalent in politics these days has made clear to me that, for now, the best course of action for me and for the party is to resign from my positions.
Although I am taking a step away, I devotedly encourage Democrats to keep up the fight. We serve more than the politics that pervade our lives. We serve the most vulnerable populations who often fall prey to the political machine. They need everything we have to offer to not only uplift them, but to protect them. If I am not with you in the trenches, I will be with you in spirit.
In Solidarity,
Melahat Rafiei
I’ll have more to say about this later.
Melahat’s portrayal of her role in the investigation is directly contradicted by the FBI’s own description of her role and motives.
Unlike other confidential human sources in the Ament indictment, Melahat is not noted as cooperating out of a sense of patriotism. She is, instead, noted by FBI SA’s to be cooperating in an attempt to secure leniency in exchange for her cooperation. This is further cemented by the fact that her cooperation began only after she was arrested.
Additionally, it should be made clear that the FBI does NOT believe Melahat to have been a truthful and forthcoming cooperating witness. In fact, they specifically state that they believe she continued to withhold information about additional bribes that she attempted to provide to elected officials.
This resignation took far longer than it should have, and while we can be glad it finally happened, this entire statement is little more than an attempt to insulate herself from the truth through further deception.
She neither asked for leniency nor was it offered. Just because the FBI believes she’s withholding information doesn’t make it a fact
I see that some of the bozos at OJ want a perp walk. I do understand Ament was handcuffed and shackled when arrested and released on a $30K bond; why don’t you ask Vern Nelson and Paul Lucas what it’s like to wear prison scrubs and eat prison food. They have experience in that area
PUFF, PUFF, PASS…
What a show of corruption greed and ego
A real shame, embarrassment and injustice to all women of color and cultures
Good Riddance Malevolent Melahat Good Riddance !
Will she also be resigning from the OC Fair Board?
she’s resigned from everything
Good riddance!
Now onto the Corruption in Irvine!
You clueless idiot
Two FBI investigations surfacing within a week- Harry Siddhu mayor of Anaheim and now this. Both on charges of bribery against politicians of South Asian descent. The Southern CA local governments seem riddled with corruption. These things don’t happen in isolation and it takes at least two in political corruption to tango. Very sad. Time to throw all those politicians associated with them out of office.
I find the OJB group, including a guy who apparently lives in Alabama or Georgia to be completely hypocritical.
Other than Ament, NO ONE has been indicted.
The presumption of innocence is now lost on the supporters of Latino gang members, two convicted Felons (Vern and Paul), an accussed rapist (Vern) and a Cadre of blog contributors who openly share their struggles with mental illness.
If their swan song is singing silly songs atcouncil meetings and SCREAMING nonsense (theRobbins) I’ll wait this out.
My prediction:
Sale goes through
Ashliegh elected
Harry gets slap on wrist
Avalino Elected
Vern and Donna upgrade to a 712 software apt
The reality is, fewer than 100 people listen to these fools.
Melahat had a dilemma – resign or don’t. Both choices were fraught with tough consequences. By resigning she disappointed a bunch of people. No doubt she knew she would. Had she stayed on, she would have angered a different bunch of people. Not one of us walks in her shoes. Whatever was her motivation, whatever was her incentive, she did what she thought best. It is not for us to second-guess. Agree or disagree, it was her call to make.