The Orange County Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously voted to remove First District Supervisor Andrew Do from all his committee assignments and strip him of all his titles, following allegations that he helped his daughter’s non-profit-organization embezzle over $13 million in public funds.
“We’re having to do this because he will not resign and we hope that he will resign because he should not continue to be publicly enriched off of the taxpayers when he, one, isn’t doing his job, and two, is embroiled in a terrible corruption scandal”, said Supervisor Katrina Foley to LAist.
Do previously held a seat representing Orange County on four regional commissions, such as the Orange County Transportation Authority and the South Coast Air Quality Management District. He was also assigned as the alternative to the Orange County Emergency Management Council.
Last month, FBI and IRS agents raided Do’s home in North Tustin that he shares with his wife, Orange County Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Cheri Pham. A house owned by his daughter, Rhiannon Do, and Viet American Society president Peter Pham, were also raided.
Rhiannon Do and her non-profit, Viet America Society (VAS), were sued by Orange County, after $13 million in public funds was directed by Andrew Do to the VAS. However, according to The Gazette, Andrew Do and VAS used the money to fund luxurious lifestyles instead of helping Vietnamese Americans in poverty. VAS was originally created to help distribute meals to seniors and residents with disabilities that were struggling during the pandemic.
Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento told The Orange County Register that the decision to remove Do was deliberate, and that the rest of the board offices will continue to work for all Orange County residents.
“It’s important that we do this together, as a unified board, because we know that residents in District One don’t have a representative that’s available, as available as should be, and so I feel for those residents”, said Sarmiento. “I want to make sure that they understand that the board is still going to be representing carrying out the business of the public and of the people. You have a board that remains here that is going to continue to conduct the public’s work.”.
VAS is currently under investigation for other issues, such as failing to complete a million-dollar contract to construct a Vietnam War memorial in Orange County.
Do was not present at Tuesday’s meeting, and was also absent during the the Board of Supervisor’s Aug. 27 meeting. He faces a vote of censure by the board on Sep. 24.
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