By Robert Haugh

The controversy surrounding 49ers owner Jed York’s prostitution arrest is getting renewed national attention.

The New York Post reported Saturday that a group of Santa Clara community leaders is escalating pressure on York, elected officials who received his campaign contributions, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The Post headline was: “Bay Area leaders go nuclear on 49ers owner Jed York after prostitution bust.”

Ouch.

The campaign is being organized through JedYorkExposed.com by three longtime Santa Clara community leaders: former Charter Review Committee member Holly Roberts, former Senior Advisory Commission member Helen Narcisco, and former Civil Service Commission member Carolyn McAllister, according to the NY Post.

Their message has two major parts: politicians should return campaign money connected to York, and Ohio officials should release the complete records surrounding York’s prostitution-related arrest.

The campaign specifically targets Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, Congressman Sam Liccardo and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).

According to the Post’s reporting, the campaign identifies a $5,700 contribution from York to Khanna’s congressional campaign in May 2024, a $3,300 contribution to Liccardo in June 2024 and a $2,500 contribution to the DCCC.

The contributions occurred before York’s arrest.

According to the reporting available when the Post story appeared, Khanna, Liccardo and the DCCC had not publicly announced plans to return the contributions.

The group is also demanding that officials in Columbiana County, Ohio, release York’s complete arrest records, including police and booking records.

York was arrested in Ohio in connection with soliciting prostitution. He later pleaded no contest.

The NFL subsequently fined York $500,000 and suspended him for six games.

But the Santa Clara leaders argue the NFL punishment was far too lenient.

Their campaign is asking Goodell to reopen the case and impose a larger financial penalty. They argue that a $500,000 fine is insignificant compared with York’s wealth and the value of the 49ers franchise.

That criticism has also been raised within the national football media.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has questioned the disparity between York’s punishment and NFL fines threatened against coaches for confronting officials. 

Florio characterized York’s $500,000 penalty as relatively minor while coaches Mike Vrabel, Aaron Glenn, and Nick Sirianni faced potential $250,000 fines for sideline confrontations.