As Martin Luther King famously pointed out, “The ultimate measure of a man (or woman or person) is not where he (insert proper pronoun here) stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Based on the actions of local Democrats here in Orange County, in the wake of this week’s release of a federal affidavit associated with corruption in Anaheim, courage and conscience are in short supply.
Rather than focusing on the corruption and fraud by Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu and others, all eyes are on Melahat Rafiei — a woman of color, a single mom and a successful political consultant without whose assistance the Feds would not have cracked their case regarding Harry Sidhu, Todd Ament and Jeff Flint. I have known Melahat for years. She is my friend. She’s been a friend to many in this county and in this party for years. So, it pains me to see reaction from Democrats to throw her under the bus for her role in this case without the benefit of all the details, which she is unable to share to offer a full defense.
Let’s be clear: there are no charges pending against Melahat and anything else they allege may have happened is pure conjecture at this point. Yes, the Feds could bring dismissed charges against her back but that seems unlikely.
Were the charges that initially brought her in contact with Federal investigators done to create leverage to compel her assistance? We don’t really know. She never asked for leniency, and none was offered. It’s clear the FBI’s veiled allegations in the affidavit and footnotes are meant to keep her engaged through the conclusion of their case. It’s something Federal prosecutors do.
What is clear is that Melahat was never the big fish the FBI was going after, and without her assistance, the alleged corruption of Harry Sidhu, Todd Ament, Jeff Flint (and others?) would not have been confirmed. While Melahat was arrested, many point out Sidhu and Flint have not been charged. I have no confirmation on why except speculation suggests both are working on plea agreements with the Feds in exchange for testimony and evidence against others in the Anaheim cabal. There’s lots of language from the FBI agent who wrote the report that’s pure opinion not fact.
The timing was clearly not coincidental either.
This case is a gift to Ashleigh Aitken who is running to replace Harry Sidhu as Mayor of Anaheim. It’s also a gift for Lorri Galloway who might be seen as a reasonable option for moderate Republicans. But for Rafiei, who has always been there to lift others, break down barriers and carry the torch for women, women of color and the immigrant experience she knows well, this case and this revelation that she was a cooperating witness, it’s just a chance for the vultures in both parties who don’t like her to circle.
Many in the State and Local Party have called on Melahat to resign from her elected position as Secretary of the CDP were made aware of the situation months ago by Rafiei herself. And for the good of the party, she resigned from all of her elected and appointed positions. But should she have? Melahat was Orange County’s first female Executive Director of the DPOC, a woman who mentored and supported many women as candidates and now electeds, who leant her credibility and connections them when they had few supporters of their own. Isn’t it better to wait until all the facts can be offered publicly rather than lead the rush to judgment? If we want to destroy someone’s credibility, should that effort be towards Sidhu and company and Orange County Republicans?
Let me thank Melahat for assisting federal investigators in their probe, including taking the risk of wearing a wire. I’ve known her a long time. We don’t always agree, but she has always had my respect. And she still does.
The political world is filled with fragile egos and self-interested players. It’s easy to look for a fall guy to try and burnish one’s reputation and hold oneself out as paragons of virtue while throwing one of your own under the bus. Ask Al Franken and Katie Hill. Should they have resigned? Or should they have waited for the results of investigations against them or let the voters decide.
Look at how Republicans defended Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene and others. And instead of thoroughly investigating all of the details, there’s a rush to judgement. Being arrested does not disqualify someone from serving in the party in the CDP or DPOC bylaws. Shouldn’t Democrats have called for a leave of absence instead? At least until she is able to tell more about her role in the case without impeding an ongoing federal investigation?
And has the OC GOP called for Harry to resign? They have not. Will they? Probably not. The betting money is Harry doesn’t show to the next meeting and, after a two day wait, the council removes him. Republican candidates for Mayor will be punished in the election.
Regardless of how things play out, I’d like to urge my fellow Democrats to look in the mirror and imagine you’re in her shoes. What would you do? Surrender or fight? How would you defend your own reputation without the ability to tell the full truth? It seems like some soul searching and spine stiffening would be in order.
Take a breath.
Focus on Republican corruption that was exposed.
Run campaigns on that rather than eating our own.
Because you might be the next body on the menu.
There’s a lot of heat, but little light on what the real situation is with Melahat. Her first contact with the FBI was in late 2019, when she was approached and asked to answer some questions at their office. She complied, and they spoke for several hours, at which time they told her she was free to go. No mug shot, no fingerprints, no Miranda warning. She asked point blank “Am I under arrest or in trouble?” They said no, you’re free to go. So she did.
There are no records of any “arrest”, only comments in the complaints and affidavits of the FBI agents, which isn’t proof of arrest. The supposed bribery? Of whom? When? There’s no evidence that it ever happened, because it didn’t.
She, because of her experience as a refugee and her ethics, she did what she felt was the right and patriotic thing, and voluntarily became a cooperating witness at the request of the FBI for their investigation of corruption in Anaheim. It’s interesting that the agents say — in a footnote — they “believe” that Melahat’s reliability and credibility are open to question, yet they used her for MONTHS as their source, and without her they wouldn’t have had a case to move against the Anaheim officials.
Interesting how facts seem to be getting ignored in favor of reactions. Shades of Al Franken and Katie Hill, indeed.
Donna Nelsons troubling mental health issues were brought front and center today, when in several social media posts she attacks Ashliegh Aitken, revising her famous line “she can suck My c@ck”
Next, she called Lorri Galloway a lying c&nt. This the woman whose husband has been credibly accused of sexual assault.
She subsequently describes here battles with mental illness. Is it any wonder her husband sings songs and dresses in costumes.
Good thing Fred Sigala is a psychiatric nurse. With no means of support they probably don’t have health insurance.
While mental illness is nothing to joke about, especially in light of the violence that has dominated the news of late, it’s worth noting, Donna Nelson brings much of this on herself, showing up at Chapter One in a bathrobe to defend her husband against RAPE accusations (at a #METOO conference nonetheless), Her dellusional tweets, her insisting at FOUR different Anaheim council meetings that the police needed to be called due to a “MENTAL ILLNESS” crisis at her Anna Drive apartment, and as you mention, She is now posting on social media her Dirty Laundry with Vern, her struggles and finally as alluded to her grief, which has led her to this crazy narrative that her Son was somehow murdered by APD.
Clearly Donna needs help, her BEWELL article penned by Vern, SCREAMED HELP ME!
All bullshit aside, She is headed for a Jonathon Hernandez Cousin “Suicide By Cop” situation. Which will not serve Vern well (she is the Section Eight lease holder).
Who sends sexually explicit messages to a woman who’s child was DYING at CHOC?
Why do Nick Gerda, Brandon Pho, Noberto Santana and the rest of the supossed “Journalists” depend on these deranged, delusional, destitute individuals for their copy.
THATS SLOPPY JOURNALISM!
and her son was “murdered” by Anaheim police while he was shooting at them running from a stolen car with narcotics in his system; and she takes Vern’s social media accounts from him when he misbehaves. But as long as there is hand lotion in the bathroom…..Vern doesn’t mind
I would like to know more about the alleged bribes Melahat was supposedly offering. How were the “offers” framed? Was it a cash offer for the personal enrichment of those to whom the offer was extended. Or were they offers of campaign contributions for favorable treatment – which is corrupt, but is that illegal? Also, what was the reaction of those to whom the bribes were offered?
Donna has since scrubbed her social media of her struggles and set her sights on Lou Correa, Ashley Aitken, Ada Bricino. Avalino Valencia and Kim Nyguen.
With Democrats like this, who needs Republicans
Wow, there is a string of sick as fuck comments. Real quality blog you got here, Chemo.
Dan, thank you
So Vern Nelson claims to have this supposed “letter”. I wonder if he and Diamond will publish it in the same article with rhetoric screen shots of Donna’s latest text folly in which she uses vulgar, racist (???) to describe Anaheim Mayoral candidate Ashleigh Aitken as a………let’s just say, Donna accused her of working for her Rich White Daddy in the woods oldest profession.
We can expect Vern to DENY it, Just like his DUI’S, Julio Perez’s mis deeds, Mark Richard Daniel’s Anti-semetic homophobe comments. Verns RETARD quote and of course the now famous Sucky C@ck tweets.
So Vern. Grow a pair and OWN IT!