REPORT: Lobbying Boom for Newsom’s French Laundry Friends

Photo credit: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Gavin Newsom’s been paying for his dinner at French Laundry ever since photos were released of him ignoring his own mandated social distancing rules at the time. On the other hand, dinner with the Governor seems to be paying off for host Jason Kinney and his lobbying firm.

As reported by The San Francisco Chronicle last night:

“Billings by lobbying firm Axiom Advisors rose by more than 25% last quarter, following an infamous birthday dinner held by partner Jason Kinney at Napa Valley’s French Laundry restaurant. Gov. Gavin Newsom attended the November event in violation of his own social distancing rules in effect at the time, helping to spur the recall drive currently underway against him.

“The Sacramento-based consultancy logged revenues of $2,008,046 between January and March, according to lobbying reports filed with the state, an increase of $406,916 from the fourth quarter of 2020 and its second-best reporting period since the firm was formed two and a half years ago.”

“Gavin Newsom and his lobbying friends lived by a different set of rules as Newsom shut down businesses, locked kids out of in-person school, and left thousands without jobs throughout the pandemic,” said RGA Action spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez. “Now they’re cashing in on that access while Californians are still struggling to make ends meet and get their kids back on track. It’s disgusting and Californians shouldn’t stand for it.”

Read the full story here.