Overview
- Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office called the conduct shown in the O’Keefe Media Group/Citizen Justice League video a felony and urged criminal investigations and prosecutions.
- The California Secretary of State confirmed an investigation and reiterated that only verified signatures count, with San Francisco authorities reviewing a separate video showing a $5‑per‑signature offer.
- The new footage documents 28 instances on Los Angeles’ Skid Row where individuals offered cash, cigarettes, or marijuana for petition signatures or registrations and discussed using false addresses.
- Some circulators in the video described being paid per signature at reported rates of $5 to $10, and several signers appeared unfamiliar with the measures they endorsed.
- Campaigns linked to petitions seen in the videos, including Building a Better California, denied any affiliation with the featured circulators and said they reported the activity, while separate allegations naming vendor Populus Inc. and corporate funders remain unverified; state and federal law prohibit paying for signatures or registrations.