Andrew Do

Do fled with his family from Vietnam to the United States following the Fall of Saigon, with only the clothes they were wearing and a "suitcase full of dictionaries."{{cite web |title=Orange County, California – Meet Andrew |url=http://www.ocgov.com/gov/bos/1/bio |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616054719/https://www.ocgov.com/gov/bos/1/bio |archive-date=2019-06-16 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=Ocgov.com }} Do grew up in Garden Grove, California and subsequently attended the University of California, Davis. Do received a JD from Hastings College of the Law.{{cite web |url=http://www.octa.net/About-OCTA/Who-We-Are/Board-of-Directors/Board-Members/Andrew-Do/ |title=Andrew Do, Orange County Supervisor 1st District |publisher=octa.net |accessdate=May 1, 2019}}

Do served on several professional boards, including the Vietnamese-American Bar Association of Southern California and the Orange County Bar Association.

In 2007, Do served as the chief of staff for Janet Nguyen, a politician from Southern California.{{cite news|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2024/10/22/andrew-dos-guilty-plea-comes-after-years-of-ethics-allegations-violations/|title=Andrew Do's agreement to plead guilty comes after years of ethics allegations, violations|newspaper=The Orange County Register|first=Andre|last=Mouchard|date=October 22, 2024 |accessdate=March 24, 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://abc7.com/oc-special-election-andrew-do-lou-correa-first-supervisorial-sitrict/494545/|title=Orange County supervisorial special election has 2-vote margin|publisher=KABC-TV|date=January 28, 2015|accessdate=March 24, 2025}}

In 2008, Do was a city council member of Garden Grove, California. He was also a deputy district attorney of Orange County as well as an adjunct professor at California State University of Fullerton.

In 2022, Do ran in the California State Treasurer election, but came in third with 17.03% of the vote to Cudahy City Councilman Jack M. Guerrero and incumbent California State Treasurer Fiona Ma in the primaries.{{cite web |title=Primary Election - June 7, 2022 |url=https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-7-2022 |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-date=March 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326021149/https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-7-2022 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-10 |title=Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do declares candidacy for state treasurer |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2022-03-10/orange-county-supervisor-andrew-do-declares-candidacy-for-state-treasurer |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=Daily Pilot |language=en-US}} According to campaign spending data from Cal-Access, Do’s campaign raised $212,401 until May 21 for the campaign.{{Cite web|last=Rodriguez|first=Sal|date=July 8, 2022|title=OC Supervisor Andrew Do blew $160,000 to bomb horribly in the primary|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2022/07/08/oc-supervisor-andrew-do-blew-160000-to-bomb-horribly-in-the-primary/|access-date=July 12, 2022|newspaper=The Orange County Register|language=en-US}}

{{Missing information|section|his actual supervisorial career, not just corruption scandals|date=October 2024}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Do has been subjected to racist abuse while serving as supervisor. During an Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting on COVID-19 prevention efforts in July 2021, one speaker, under the pseudonym of "Tyler Durden", told Do: “You come to my country, and you act like one of these communist parasites. I ask you to go the f--- back to Vietnam," despite Do being an American citizen and living in the country for more than 46 years.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-30 |title=In Orange County, Anti-Vaccine Activists Attack Top Elected Official For His Vietnamese Heritage |url=https://laist.com/news/orange-county-anti-vax-activists-attack-supervisor-andrew-do-vietnamese-heritage |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=LAist |language=en}}

In March 2017, Do attempted to become the supervisor to CalOptima, Orange County's $3.7 billion publicly-funded health insurance plan for low-income citizens. His bid was rejected by the CalOptima board of directors.{{cite news|last=Graham|first=Jordan|date=July 13, 2017 |title=The fight over Orange County's $3.4 billion healthcare plan could be about money, local control or revenge|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/07/13/the-fight-over-orange-countys-3-4-billion-healthcare-plan-could-be-about-money-local-control-or-revenge/ |access-date=March 24, 2025|newspaper=The Orange County Register|language=en-US}}{{cite news|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/09/18/amid-power-play-allegations-state-legislature-freezes-board-makeup-of-orange-countys-3-4-billion-health-care-plan/|title=Amid power-play allegations, state legislature freezes board makeup of CalOptima, Orange County's $3.4 billion health care plan|newspaper=The Orange County Register|date=September 18, 2017|last=Graham|first=Jordan|accessdate=March 24, 2025}} Do then attempted, but was blocked by state legislators, to take control of CalOptima by proposing that all 5 board members of the OC Board of Supervisors become board members of CalOptima, amid accusations that the takeover effort was motivated by being rejected as chairman, to which Do did not respond. The move was also seen as an attempt to pull CalOptima back from the medical industry and install elected officials instead, after a former county supervisor and lobbyist gave the industry control in 2011.

Do eventually became chairman of CalOptima in 2020, making him the first Vietnamese American to take this seat.{{Cite web |title=OC Supervisor Andrew Do Unanimously Selected as Chair of the CalOptima Board of Directors |url=https://bos1.ocgov.com/Andrew-Do-Chair-of-CalOptima-Board-of-Directors |access-date=February 8, 2022 |website=Orange County |language=en-US}}

Between 2020 through 2023, Do accepted up to $550,000 in bribes in exchange for voting to direct up to $13.5 million taxpayer dollars to Viet America Society (VAS), a nonprofit that his then 19-year old daughter Rhiannon Do formed in 2020, without public votes and without naming the organization or revealing the family relationship.{{Cite web |title=Orange County supervisor accepted over $550,000 in bribes, pleads guilty to conspiracy charge, feds say |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-10-22/oc-supervisor-do-resign-pleads-guilty-bribery |last=Hernandez |first=Salvador |date=2024-10-22 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite web |last=Gerda |first=Nick |date=August 2, 2024 |title=County demands refund of millions OC supervisor awarded to his daughter's group |url=https://laist.com/news/politics/orange-county-supervisor-andrew-do-daughter-nonprofit-viet-america-society-repayment-demand |access-date=August 3, 2024 |website=LAist |language=en-US}} The money was granted under the county's emergency authority dealing with COVID-19 and the federal pandemic response to feed needy seniors during the pandemic.

In 2024, after VAS failed to substantiate the work and show that meals were actually handed out, Orange County authorities brought on a lawsuit against VAS, accusing Chief Executive and founder Peter Ahn Pham, Secretary Dinh Mai, and Rhiannon Do, of using more than $13 million in taxpayer money on "lavish expenses" such as buying personal homes.{{Cite web |last1=Hernandez |first1=Salvador |last2=Fry| first2=Hannah| date=August 2, 2024 |title=FBI raids homes of Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do and his daughter|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-08-22/fbi-raid-orange-county-supevisor-daughter-home-vsa-nonprofit |access-date=August 23, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Authorities demanded VAS to return $2.2 million (representing the entire two contracts to feed the seniors during the pandemic).

The lawsuit was filed by Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley who noted that "I just think that's outrageous [...] We wanted to make sure that people who are food insecure had food".{{Cite web |last1=González |first1=David |date=August 17, 2024 |title=Orange County nonprofit accused of misusing more than $13 million in COVID relief funds|url=https://abc7.com/post/orange-county-sues-viet-america-society-nonprofit-supervisor-andrew-dos-daughter-alleged-misuse-covid-funds/15194372/ |access-date=August 23, 2024 |website=ABC7 |language=en-US}} It also accuses Aloha Financial Investment and its president Thu Thao Thi Vu of wrongdoing.

VAS eventually hired auditors, but after these auditors signaled that their findings will demonstrate that VAS failed to follow requirements to track the money, they were fired.

The county also demanded a return of another $1 million that Andrew Do directed to another organization, Hand to Hand Relief Organization, where a significant portion was then channeled back to VAS. In addition, another $1 million that was awarded to VSA to maintain the Vietnam War memorial at Mile Square Park was allegedly not completed.

In August 2024, the FBI raided the homes of Andrew Do and his wife and O.C. Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Cheri Pham, their daughter Rhiannon Do, and VAS founder Peter Pham in connection to this investigation.{{Cite web |author1=Nick Gerda |author2=Jill Replogle |author3=Yusra Farzan |author4=Adolfo Guzman-Lopez |date=August 22, 2024 |title=Feds raid homes of OC Supervisor Andrew Do, Judge Cheri Pham and their daughter |url=https://laist.com/news/politics/orange-county-supervisor-andrew-do-raid-rhiannon-do-house-tustin |website=LAIst |language=en-US |access-date=August 26, 2024}} Peter Pham said that situation was a "misunderstanding" and that he "didn't do anything wrong."

A number of local officials and residents called on Andrew Do to resign from his position on the Board of Supervisors. He was since absent from the board meetings.{{Cite web |author1=Julie Sharp |date=August 27, 2024 |title=Andrew Do is a no-show at OC Board of Supervisors' meeting following calls for his resignation |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/andrew-do-is-a-no-show-at-oc-board-of-supervisors-meeting-following-calls-for-his-resignation/ |website=CBS News |language=en-US |access-date=August 29, 2024}} "If Supervisor Do does not resign I will pursue every legal avenue available to have him removed from office [...] Andrew please resign," said Supervisor Katrina Foley.{{Cite web |author1=Shayla Girardin |date=August 29, 2024 |title=OC Supervisor Andrew Do faces calls for his resignation amid federal investigation |url=https://abc7.com/post/oc-supervisor-andrew-do-faces-calls-resignation-board-colleagues-residents/15236621/ |website=ABC7 |language=en-US |access-date=August 29, 2024}}

On October 22, 2024, the United States Department of Justice announced that Do agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery as a result of the Viet America Society contracts and Do's direction of taxpayer money. The federal charges involved more than $550,000 in bribes for directing and voting in favor of more than $10 million in COVID funds to his daughter's charity.

U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada commented that "he functioned like Robin Hood in reverse, and his conspirators stole money from the poor to give to themselves."{{cite news|title=Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do admits to taking bribes, Feds say|url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/feds-to-announce-corruption-charges-against-orange-county-supervisor-andrew-do/3541469/|last=Jeong|first=Helen|date=October 22, 2024|publisher=NBC Los Angeles}}

Do resigned from the office as part of this agreement and pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Santa Ana later in October. The plea agreement required Do to forfeit any assets connected to the bribery scheme, including the Tustin property his daughter purchased in 2023. It also required him to pay back the bribes he and his daughters has received.

On June 9, 2025, Do was sentenced to five years in prison for his crime.

Do has been beset with allegations of corruption during his career, which has led community groups as well as the Orange County Register (which had previously repeatedly endorsed Do) to call for his resignation.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-08 |title=Scandal shadows Andrew Do's final year on the O.C. Board of Supervisors |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-04-08/scandal-shadows-andrew-dos-final-year-on-the-o-c-board-of-supervisors |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

In the 2008 Garden Grove City Council race, Do's political opponent filed a complaint that he lives in a North Tustin home he purchased in 2002 making him ineligible to sit on the Garden Grove council. No charges were brought against Do. In 2015, during the Board of Supervisors race, Do was likewise accused of residing outside of 1st district in North Tustin (3rd district). Do acknowledged that he bought the Westminster residency in the 1st district to meet residency requirements to run for office in 2015. However, Do denied the allegations that he still lives in his North Tustin home, but declines to state whether it is being rented out or not.{{Cite web |date=2015-04-14 |title=O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do dismisses allegation that he lives outside his district |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2015/04/14/oc-supervisor-andrew-do-dismisses-allegation-that-he-lives-outside-his-district/ |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}

In July 2022, the non-partisan California Fair Political Practices Commission published a stipulation revealing that Do -- while serving on the board of CalOptima in 2016 and 2017 -- has steered government contracts to two lobbyists that were donors of his political campaigns.{{Cite web |last=Brereton |first=Angela |date=July 11, 2022 |title=Andrew Do Spiluation |url=https://www.fppc.ca.gov/content/dam/fppc/documents/Stipulations/2022/july/3-Andrew-Do-Stip.pdf |access-date=July 12, 2022 |website=California Fair Political Practices Commission |language=en-US}} This is in violation of California's pay-to-play restrictions. The commission noted that "Do made, participated in making, and attempted to use his official position to influence governmental contracting decisions involving a participant who contributed to his campaign".{{Cite web |last=Custadio |first=Spencer |date=July 11, 2022 |title=Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do Faces $12,000 State Fine Over 'Pay to Play' Politics |url=https://voiceofoc.org/2022/07/orange-county-supervisor-andrew-do-faces-12000-state-fine-over-pay-to-play-politics/ |access-date=July 12, 2022 |website=Voice of OC |language=en-US}} The commission revealed a sum of roughly $5,000 that were donated by the two lobbyist, but that Do did not disclose this or recuse himself from the vote to award the government contracts to them. The commission imposed an administrative penalty of $12,000 and that Do has "apparently" agreed to this fine.

In the same stipulation, the commission also noted that Do violated regulations on a series of behested payments for a statue project at Mile Square Park by filing the required reports late. The commission noted that "Payments made at the behest of elected officials—including charitable donations—are a means by which donors may seek to gain favor with elected officials. Timely reporting of such activity serves to increase public awareness regarding potential attempts to influence in this manner."

The commission met again on July 21, 2022, to determine these cases.

While testifying as a witness during a major trial regarding a homeless services center, Do failed to disclose that his wife was the assistant presiding judge, leading to a mistrial.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-29 |title=OC supervisor testified without disclosing his wife is the assistant presiding judge. It led to a mistrial |url=https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/orange-county-supervisor-andrew-do-homeless-services-mistrial |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=LAist |language=en}}

After becoming CalOptima chairman, he hired one of his longtime advisors to the newly created chief of staff role, paying $282,000 plus benefits. A former CalOptima chairman was among those raising concern given the advisor had less than a year of hospital administration experience.{{Cite news|last=Staggs |first=Brooke |date=February 7, 2022 |title=CalOptima abruptly fires entire legal team as concerns mount over agency's direction |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2022/02/07/caloptima-abruptly-fires-entire-legal-team-as-concerns-mount-over-agencys-direction/ |access-date=February 8, 2022 |newspaper=The Orange County Register |language=en-US}}

In 2021, Do led the effort on the board to appoint Blair Contratto as the hospital administrator of CalOptima, despite Contratto lacking experience in Orange County.{{Cite web |last=Gerda |first=Nick |date=November 30, 2021 |title=OC Supervisors Make Controversial Hospital Executive Appointment to Public Health Plan Board |url=https://voiceofoc.org/2021/11/oc-supervisors-make-controversial-hospital-executive-appointment-to-public-health-plan-board/ |access-date=February 8, 2022 |website=Voice of OC |language=en-US}} This caused a rare public rebuke by the Hospital Association of Southern California noting that diverging from the traditional appointment of a local leader "disregards the breadth of knowledge and experience our hospital leaders bring to CalOptima". Under Do's leadership as board chair, CalOptima has increasingly become under fire for its substantial turnover in key positions and salaries having jumped significantly (from $400,000 to at least $560,000 for the CEO position).

In February 2022, the board abruptly fired its entire in-house legal team of attorneys and support staff in a closed session meeting.

Do also presided over and approved many salary-increases for CalOptima officers, including a 50% salary increase of CEO Michael Hunn to a base salary of $841,000 per year in 2022 and HR Director, Brigette Hoey's salary increase from $300,000 year to $512,000 per year.{{Cite web |last=Gerda |first=Nick |date=February 15, 2023 |title=Should a Public Official Be Making $840,000 Handling Healthcare for OC's Neediest? |url=https://voiceofoc.org/2023/02/should-a-public-official-be-making-840000-handling-healthcare-for-ocs-neediest/ |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=Voice of OC |language=en-US}}

Former chairman of CalOptima, Dr. Paul Yost, voiced concerns that “those are healthcare dollars that ought to be going to provide healthcare for the neediest population.” and the organization is now facing a state probe for controversial hiring and contracting practices with a report due in April 2023.{{Cite web |last=Gerda |first=Nick |date=February 1, 2023 |title=Sacramento is Investigating Pay Spikes and Hiring Practices at OC's Health Plan for the Poor |url=https://voiceofoc.org/2023/02/sacramento-is-investigating-pay-spikes-and-hiring-practices-at-ocs-health-plan-for-the-poor/ |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=Voice of OC |language=en-US}}

In February 2023, a day after a local non-profit news agency reported on a state investigation into CalOptima's hiring and pay practices including controversially large salary hikes, Do abruptly resigned as chair.{{Cite web |last=Gerda |first=Nick |date=Feb 3, 2023 |title=Top Official Resigns From OC's Health Plan for the Poor Following Revelations of State Probe |url=https://voiceofoc.org/2023/02/top-official-resigns-from-ocs-health-plan-for-the-poor-following-revelations-of-state-probe/ |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=Voice of OC |language=en-US}}

• Orange County Board of Supervisors#January 27, 2015, First District special election

{{reflist}}

• [https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Do Andrew Do at ballotpedia.org]
• [https://ocpolitical.com/tag/andrew-do/ Andrew Do at ocpolitical.com]

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Category:21st-century California politicians

Category:City council members of Asian descent

Category:Asian conservatism in the United States

Category:California city council members

Category:California politicians of Vietnamese descent

Category:California Republicans

Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States elections

Category:Living people

Category:Orange County Supervisors

Category:People from Garden Grove, California

Category:People from Westminster, California

Category:Politicians from Ho Chi Minh City

Category:University of California College of the Law, San Francisco alumni

Category:University of California, Davis alumni

Category:Vietnamese emigrants to the United States

Category:Vietnamese refugees

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:California politicians convicted of crimes