GET THE FACTS
SMEAR:
Misdemeanor from the 1990s
FACT:
In the 1990s, Michelle was involved in two altercations with other women with whom she has since reconciled. One of which was when Michelle, as a young mother 30 years ago, was protecting her children. The second was in self defense amid an altercation with a friend over a misunderstanding. The friend, who still today remains close with Michelle, issued the following statement refuting the lies perpetrated by Michelle’s opponent:
A letter written by Rhonda further explaining the incident was published in the Los Angeles Wave Newspaper. You can also read the full letter here.
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BOTTOM LINE: Following these altercations, Michelle got a second chance and has since dedicated her life’s work to public service, fighting for rehabilitation and re-entry programs that help people rebuild their lives after incarceration and give back to their communities.
SMEAR:
Publicly disproven claims that Michelle used a racial slur while on Compton City Council
FACT:
Michelle’s Council colleague at the time Isaac Galvan, who has since been found by a court to have committed the most egregious case of voter fraud in years in California, and is under federal indictment by the U.S. Attorney’s office for bribery, accused Michelle of using a racial slur in a closed session meeting. Michelle immediately denied the allegations and requested a formal investigation. An independent investigation, in which her colleagues who were present during the closed session meeting were interviewed under oath — except Galvan who refused to participate despite having made the accusation — determined that Michelle had NOT used the racial slur. The investigation report was presented at a public council meeting and can be viewed here.
In addition, Damon Brown, who served as Compton City Attorney at the time of the initial allegations and was present in the closed session, publicly discussed the investigative findings in October 2021:
Moreover, current Compton City Attorney Eric Perrodin confirmed the findings of the past investigation into this matter:
SMEAR:
False allegations about Michelle mistreating staff while on the Compton City Council
FACT:
Former City Manager Cecil Rhambo has publicly endorsed Michelle’s campaign for State Senate. Michelle has a great relationship with Rhambo, as well as the only staff member at the city who reported directly to her, Andre Spicer, who is now a Compton City Councilmember.
Michelle’s opponent is only bringing this up to distract from her own abhorrent record with staff. Her opponent had one of the worst staff turnover rates in Congress nearly every year she was in office - including a 47% turnover rate one year. She even had an employee who was a disabled Afghanistan veteran say she’d rather be back in Afghanistan than work for Laura Richardson. Her opponent was fined by the House Ethics Committee for illegally using 10 congressional staff members — on the taxpayers’ dime — to work on her campaign.