Two social media influencers have initiated new complaints against Nithya Raman’s mayoral campaign, alleging that the campaign improperly compensated influencers without adequate disclosure. The complaints were submitted to both the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) and the Los Angeles Ethics Commission.
The individuals involved, Kaitlyn Hennessy and Beatrice Gomberg, previously filed an ethics complaint against Tom Steyer’s gubernatorial campaign. Their most recent filings were reportedly supported by legal assistance from the campaign of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Hennessy acknowledged that Bass’s campaign directed them to the Kaufman Legal Group, which aided in preparing the complaints. The Bass campaign has confirmed that it is covering the legal expenses for Hennessy and Gomberg but is not directly compensating them for their efforts.
The complaints center around posts from comedian Adam Conover and Eric Cheng, a social media influencer who is now affiliated with Raman’s campaign, along with various “meme” accounts that share content created by others, sometimes at the request of political campaigns. Both the Raman campaign and Conover have denied any wrongdoing. The Raman campaign clarified that Cheng is compensated for his work with the campaign and not for personal posts on social media. A spokesperson for the campaign stated that they have sought guidance from the Los Angeles Ethics Commission to ensure compliance with disclosure requirements.
Legal experts suggest that Bass’s involvement in facilitating the complaints is unlikely to face ethical challenges, provided that the financial contributions are reported in the campaign’s disclosures, which the Bass campaign indicated it intends to do. Jeffrey Daar, a former president of the L.A. Ethics Commission, remarked that as long as a campaign remains transparent about its spending, it is permissible for it to have legal representatives file complaints with appropriate consent.
The ethics complaint against the Raman campaign arrives amid ongoing scrutiny regarding payments made by the campaign, particularly focused on Conover’s prior adverts and associated content. These payments initially reported for online advertising were later revised to reflect video production services.
The L.A. Ethics Commission and the FPPC have not commented on the current status of the complaints or previous allegations made in May by former city council candidate Dylan Kendall.
California, known for its stringent regulations regarding political disclosures, requires social media influencers to publicly declare if they are compensated by political campaigns. This state has recently empowered the FPPC to refer instances of alleged violations to law enforcement for potential misdemeanor charges, with penalties that can reach $5,000 for each infraction. The L.A. Ethics Commission has the authority to impose fines of up to $15,000 or triple the amount at stake in violations.
Why It Matters
The unfolding situation highlights the complexities of influencer involvement in political campaigning, particularly concerning disclosure requirements and ethical considerations as election cycles approach. The ability to enforce transparent communication regarding compensated content is critical to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
