All the California politicians who took money from Ed Buck
Ed Buck was arrested last month and charged in connection with two overdose deaths at his West Hollywood home. There, prosecutors allege, he manipulated gay black men who were homeless, addicted or working as escorts into doing drugs for his pleasure.
Buck has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges.
Since the mid 2000s, Buck has given more than $500,000 to political candidates and causes, almost all of them linked to the Democratic Party. Forty politicians now holding office in California, ranging from Los Angeles City Hall to Congress, have cashed a check from Buck.
Current officeholders have received more than $150,000 from Buck, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey and U.S. Reps. Ted Lieu and Adam B. Schiff. Some have returned the money.
12 federal officials
$56,550
11 state
$22,237
4 county
$20,250
13 city
Below is a list of every sitting officeholder in California who received a check from Buck. Also noted is additional money from Animal PAC, a political action committee largely supported by Buck.
Ted Lieu
U.S. Rep. (D-Torrance)
$25,600
Lieu was first elected to the Torrance City Council in 2002. He later served in the state Assembly and state Senate before being elected to Congress 2014.
Mike Feuer
L.A. City Attorney
$18,400
Feuer is also a former member of the state Assembly and Los Angeles City Council. Animal PAC donated $2,600 to his 2013 election campaign.
John Duran
West Hollywood Council member
$12,500
The long time West Hollywood council member has been one of the biggest recipients of donations from Buck.
Jeff Prang
L.A. County Assessor
$11,950
Prang previously served on the West Hollywood City Council. Animal PAC donated $3,000 to his 2014 assessor campaign.
Anthony Portantino
State Sen. (D-La Cañada Flintridge)
$9,900
Portantino represents parts of the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. Animal PAC donated $2,500 to his 2016 state Senate campaign.
Bob Blumenfield
L.A. City Council member
$7,550
Blumenfield represents the southwestern neighborhoods of the San Fernando Valley including Woodland Hills, Reseda and Tarzana. Animal PAC gave him $2,000 when he was a member of the state Assembly.
Jerry McNerney
U.S. Rep. (D-Stockton)
$6,850
McNerney was first elected to Congress in 2006.
Scott Svonkin
L.A. Community College District
$6,000
Svonkin is one of seven trustees on the community college board.
Henry Stern
State Sen. (D-Canoga Park)
$5,200
Stern represents parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Animal PAC gave him an additional $4,200 in 2016.
Susan Rubio
State Sen. (D-Baldwin Park)
$4,400
Rubio previously served on the Baldwin Park City Council and, like her sister Blanca Rubio, was once a public school teacher.
Mitch O’Farrell
L.A. City Council member
$4,200
In 2013 O'Farrell was elected to succeed Mayor Eric Garcetti to represent the neighborhoods of Hollywood, Echo Park and Glassell Park.
Ron Galperin
L.A. Controller
$3,600
Galperin, who serves as the City's auditor and chief accounting officer, took office in 2013.
Jimmy Gomez
U.S. Rep. (D-Los Angeles)
$3,000
Gomez served in the state Assembly before being elected in June 2017.
Adam B. Schiff
U.S. Rep. (D-Burbank)
$2,700
Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Schiff has served in Congress since 2001.
Xavier Becerra
State Attorney General (D)
$2,500
Before being appointed attorney general in 2017, Becerra served 12 terms in Congress.
Richard Bloom
State Assemblyman (D-Santa Monica)
$2,500
Prior to his election in 2012, Bloom was a member of the Santa Monica City Council.
Andra Hoffman
L.A. Community College District
$2,200
Hoffman was first elected in 2015.
Paul Koretz
L.A. City Council member
$2,200
Koretz represents parts of the city's Westside. Animal PAC contributed $500 in 2011.
Paul Krekorian
L.A. City Council member
$2,200
Krekorian's district includes Studio City, North Hollywood and Sun Valley.
Gavin Newsom
Governor
$2,100
Newsom, who has a long career in California politics was elected governor on Nov. 6, 2018.
Pete Aguilar
U.S. House Rep. (D-Redlands)
$2,000
Adrin Nazarian
State Assemblyman
$1,887
Lauren Meister
West Hollywood City Council member
$1,500
Gil Cedillo
L.A. City Council member
$1,400
Eric Garcetti
L.A. Mayor
$1,400
Ben Allen
State Sen. (D-Santa Monica)
$1,000
Ami Bera
U.S. Rep. (D-Elk Grove)
$1,000
Lucille Roybal-Allard
U.S. Rep. (D-Downey)
$1,000
Blanca Rubio
State Assemblywoman (D-Baldwin Park)
$1,000
John D’amico
West Hollywood Mayor
$1,000
John Heilman
West Hollywood City Council member
$500
Tony Cardenas
U.S. House Rep. (D-Los Angeles)
$500
Reggie Jones-Sawyer
State Assemblyman (D-Los Angeles)
$500
Sydney Kamlager-Dove
State Assemblywoman (D-Los Angeles)
$500
Karen Bass
U.S. Rep. (D-Los Angeles)
$250
Songhai Miguda-Armstead
L.A. County Judge
$250
Julia Brownley
U.S. Rep. (D-Westlake Village)
$100
Jackie Lacey
L.A. County District Attorney
$100
Richard Pan
State Sen. (D-Sacramento)
$100
Curren Price
L.A. City Council member
$100