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I\u2019ve just obtained a Legal Opinion from the Office of the Legislative Counsel confirming what I\u2019ve told Governor Newsom repeatedly: there are legal issues with his appointment of Alex Padilla to the Senate, as the Constitution requires an election. Read the opinion here<\/a>.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve sent the Legal Opinion to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, along with a letter advising that the Senate not seat Padilla unless these legal issues are resolved. The Constitution authorizes the Senate to judge \u201cthe Qualifications of its own Members.\u201d My letter to McConnell is\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Even after being restrained by the courts for exceeding his authority, Newsom is once again trying to claim for himself power that resides with the people. The last thing California needs is for Newsom’s one-man rule to yield a hand-picked Senator who could serve for decades.<\/p>\n In choosing Padilla, Newsom is not just trying to unlawfully install his own political ally as our permanent Senator. He’s also elevating a politician who just illegally gave $35 million in taxpayer funds to a \u201cTeam Biden\u201d firm for \u201cvoter education.\u201d As our state\u2019s top elections official, Padilla used his post to illegally influence elections; now he\u2019s presuming to become a Senator without an election at all.<\/p>\n The irony would be dizzying, if we weren\u2019t already so well-oriented to two central facts of California politics: corruption is the way to climb the ladder, and Gavin Newsom\u2019s shamelessness in advancing his interests knows no bounds.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, Newsom has already announced another appointment to fill Padilla\u2019s position as Secretary of State. This Legal Opinion says not so fast.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n