By Robert Haugh
This week, indicted Vice Mayor Anthony Becker will be back in court for multiple hearings. And last week Becker filed for re-election to his City Council seat. Yup, no kidding.
If Becker can delay his trial, he will be the first person in Santa Clara County history to run for office while under indictment.
According to sources, Becker is trying to convince some people close to the 49ers that they should support him again out of loyalty for all he’s done for them.
Becker is being tried for felony perjury. He was indicted in April 2023 for allegedly leaking a Grand Jury report to the 49ers and lying about it.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen and Deputy District Attorney Jason Malinsky made a major statement about the seriousness of Becker’s actions in a press conference. But they have been unable to successfully fight the trial delays.
Becker has asked for numerous continuances to delay his trial. Since his indictment 15 months ago, he has voted on multiple 49er-related issues including major lawsuit settlements that helped the team financially.
It looks like Becker will attempt to get another trial delay. Here’s the latest calendar info from the Superior Court website:
According to multiple sources, Becker’s legal team has recently attempted to subpoena approximately two dozen witnesses. Many of them are not Becker allies or associates. They have no knowledge of his alleged criminal actions.
Santa Clara News Online has confirmed that the San Francisco Chronicle has been served a subpoena. News organizations are covered by the California Shield Law that says reporters have a constitutional right to protect their source of information.
Local legal experts believe it’s not a serious subpoena. Instead, it’s an attempt to harass Becker’s opponents or a way to use the Public Defender’s resources to find information on people who oppose Becker.
The Chronicle published a story about the 2022 Grand Jury report hours after another publication, the Silicon Valley Voice, printed the information about the report. The Voice received the report from Becker, according to the District Attorney’s official investigation and indictment.
Today, a motion will be heard on the legitimacy of the subpoenas and other issues.
On Thursday, Becker’s legal team will attempt to get another continuance to delay the trial.
This is a developing story.
[…] legal team is trying to expand the investigation beyond Becker. It’s an attempt to show that Becker is being selectively prosecuted, according to […]
Hmmmif one person stole cookies, then lied, it is allowed, if three other people stole cookies.
No.
Becker was asked by an independent grand jury if he leaked. He said no. The 49ers admitted he leaked to them.
Where and when
Did LG leak the report?
I think the reason why Becker’s team has tried to subpoena parties such as people from the San Francisco Chronicle and the Santa Clara Police Officers Association is because his defense will try to make the point that he has been selectively prosecuted for leaking the grand jury report because he is not the only one who did. They will hope to prove that Lisa Gillmor leaked it as well.
The defense will try to argue that there was good reason to believe that other parties besides Becker leaked the report to other parties aside from the Forty Niners and the Silicon Valley Voice and the San Jose Spotlight.
I would not be shocked if Gillmor leaked the report to the SCPOA and I would not be surprised at all if we were to find out that somebody leaked the report to them in full or at least the gist of what the report contained.
I would not mind seeing an investigation into that and people needing to testify under oath but I also do not think that anyone else who might have leaked the report will falsely deny this while under oath like Becker seems to have done.
No matter what the outcome of his trial is, he’s clearly delusional that he has any thought that he could be re-elected.
This is a riot. I wonder who he borrowed the balls from to try this.
Becker does not deserve to have a delayed trial. Face the Judge/jury first. If innocent then continue your reelection. If guilty then do the time! I am tired of the BS that our Mayor and Council have been getting away with. Grand jury reports are accurate!
Any fans of the Athletics here?
Goodwin, representing Becker, also represents John Fisher.
Becker needs to roll up the carpetbag he arrived on and get the hell outta’ Dodge. Go to jail. Do not pass go. Do not steal anymore taxpayers monies.
Interesting that Becker is serving as his own treasuer this time.
Becker is Santa Clara’s Biden.
Biden: “Do not go gentle into that good night….Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
G’nite Mr. Becker.
Comparing Anthony Becker to Joe Biden is giving Becker a million times more credit than he deserves. If Becker was someone who brought this city decades of experience at the highest levels of government and stabilized a nation during a global pandemic and restored moderate policymaking after the preceding administration pursued an extremist agenda then we as a city would be very fortunate to have him.
But what Anthony Becker is has been someone who has been out of his depth in office and who has appeared to use the power of his office to enrich special interests and himself. He has appeared to commit crimes in doing so and has been indicted and is about to be tried on criminal charges.
If we are to compare Anthony Becker to a national political figure then the more apt comparison is Donald Trump. However I do not think that even Becker deserves that comparison.
Drink the kool aide much?
That is funny Howard. A follower of a wannabe authoritarian who runs a political party as his cult of personality is trying to crack People’s Temple jokes about a person they think is a follower of a leader who voluntarily stepped down due to recognition of his own shortcomings.
Brilliant parody of a Trump follower who is trying to insult someone else but who really just reveals his own cluelessness.
Or were you parodying Anthony Becker because that would work too.
Either way I say well done to you Howard.