Some OC supervisors push for tougher sentence for Andrew Do

Members of the Orange County Board of Supervisors near Los Angeles appear split on whether disgraced former Supervisor Andrew Do deserves a sentence greater than 5 years in prison .

The Voice of OC reports Supervisor Janet Nguyen who replaced Do on the board after he pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in October wants the board to advocate for a tougher sentence.

“It’s clear this plea agreement does not reflect the gravity of the crime,” Nguyen said. “If we allow the endgame to be what it is today, it’ll be up to five years and we didn’t say a word.” 

Both Nguyen and fellow Supervisor Doug Chaffee introduced a resolution to call on the Department of Justice to take a second look at the plea bargain.

However, Supervisors Don Wagner and Vicente Sarmiento say it’s not the role of the board to question prosecutors.

 “That, to me, shows a profound disrespect for the prosecutors and law enforcement at the state and county level who’ve worked so hard on this case, know it better than we do, and have said this is the deal appropriate under the circumstances,” Wagner said, according to LAist.

Chaffee then backed away from his support of his own motion saying he wants the board to act unanimously.

My News LA reports Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento suggested the board file an amicus brief with the court to request a maximum sentence.

Chaffee said he supports that idea and agreed to delay a vote until the board’s next meeting.

Do accepted a plea deal in which he admitted accepting more than $550,000 in bribes in exchange for voting in favor of sending $10 million in COVID-relief funds to the Viet America Society, where his daughter worked.