California AG Took Campaign Donations from Casino Under Investigation

^{Pictured: California Attorney General Rob Bonta}

California Attorney General Rob Bonta accepted campaign contributions from a casino that was under investigation by his own office, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

In 2021, Bonta launched his campaign for governor while still serving as the state’s top prosecutor. At the time, his office was investigating Bicycle Casino over allegations of money laundering — a serious federal crime in the U.S.

Records show that Bicycle Casino donated $16,200 to Bonta’s campaign — the maximum single contribution allowed from a company.

The casino also faced trouble at the federal level that same year. “The federal government has taken action against Bicycle, and now it’s time to hold the casino accountable for alleged violations of our state laws,” Bonta said in a 2021 statement.

Despite that stance, the case remained stagnant for nearly three years before authorities quietly closed the investigation in October 2024. In that time, the casino changed ownership, with its previous owner selling the property for roughly $100 million.

Now, U.S. law enforcement agencies may turn their attention to Bonta himself, scrutinizing whether the probe was handled impartially.

Following the donation’s disclosure, Bonta’s campaign spokesperson, Nathan Click, stated that when the contribution was made in May 2021, staffers were unaware of any ongoing investigation into Bicycle Casino.