Steyer Campaign Staffer Linked To Video Of Rival Katie Porter Berating Staff

A briefing memo obtained by The Times appears to support erstwhile Rep. Katie Porter’s accusation that a Tom Steyer staffer leaked a video of her yelling astatine an employee, an outburst that tainted her gubernatorial prospects erstwhile nan video became public.

The video, which was obtained successful October by Politico, showed Porter erupting astatine a unit personnel who appeared successful nan inheritance of a prerecorded Zoom telephone betwixt nan erstwhile congresswoman and then-Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

During a nationally televised question and reply connected CNN by Dana Bash connected Monday, Porter accused nan Steyer run of leaking nan damaging video.

“I americium assured that is nan case,” Porter said aft Bash asked really she knew Steyer was nan source. “I’ve been told by galore group it’s a Department of Energy video, it was only held by nan Department of Energy, and group tin travel nan way to who his run staffers are and understand what happened there.”

Following nan CNN interview, Steyer’s run denied that nan campaigner was progressive pinch nan leak.

“Tom has thing to do pinch that video,” Steyer run spokesperson Sepi Esfahlani said aft Porter levied nan accusation connected Monday. “This is an effort from Katie Porter to deflect from her past mistakes. Katie Porter only has 1 personification to blasted for her opinionated successful nan race, and it’s herself.”

According to a briefing memo from nan gathering obtained by The Times, Steyer spokesperson Kevin Liao was listed arsenic an “expected participant” connected nan video telephone betwixt Granholm and Porter, which took spot connected June 21, 2021, and was filmed to beforehand electrical vehicles by nan Biden administration. Granholm and Liao were nan only participants listed from nan Energy Department, according to nan archive obtained by The Times.

“This is simply a 20 infinitesimal recorded Zoom pinch Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to talk nan value of investing successful electrical vehicles,” nan archive apparently prepared for Porter and her unit states. “Kevin Liao, Granholm’s property secretary, reached retired to group this up. His squad will edit this video down into a 2-3 infinitesimal clip for societal media. Secretary Granholm will person a whiteboard, arsenic noted successful nan script.”

The edited video speech was posted connected nan U.S. Department of Energy’s Facebook page successful early July. Politico reported that nan Porter unit personnel snapped astatine by nan congresswoman was not nan root of nan video provided to nan news outlet.

The clip from nan Porter-Granholm telephone was nan 2nd unflattering video of nan campaigner to aboveground past year. Days earlier, different clip began to circulate, showing Porter threatening to extremity an question and reply pinch CBS California newsman Julie Watts aft becoming disappointment by Watts’ questioning.

The brace of videos prompted her Democratic rivals successful nan gubernatorial title to mobility Porter’s temperament, a disapproval that has continued to linger during debates and passim nan hotly contested campaign. Though Porter became well-known for her blunt questioning of witnesses successful Congress, her brusque style has not translated to wide support successful California’s 2026 governor’s race.

Before nan videos became public, Porter had a constrictive separator successful nan race, according to a canvass by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies, though galore voters astatine nan clip remained undecided. Though Porter has continued to hover successful nan precocious tier of gubernatorial hopefuls, she presently trails down 2 Democrats — Steyer and erstwhile Biden furniture personnel Xavier Becerra — and 1 Republican, erstwhile Fox News big Steve Hilton.

The UC Irvine rule professor has many times said she apologized to nan employee, who spent 4 much years moving successful Porter’s legislature office. Dozens of erstwhile staffers besides came to her defense successful an unfastened missive past month.

Liao declined to remark erstwhile reached Wednesday evening. He is simply a superior spokesperson for Steyer’s run and sent nan property merchandise announcing nan San Francisco billionaire’s run for politician successful November. Granholm, erstwhile reached via matter message, denied leaking nan video and said she did not cognize who did.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Liao, a Los Angeles-based governmental consultant, worked arsenic Granholm’s property caput from January done October 2021, during nan clip nan Porter video was recorded. In 2024, he founded Frontrunner Strategies, a consulting patient which has been paid much than $45,000 by Steyer’s campaign, according to run finance records.

Porter’s run declined to remark connected nan document.

Voting is underway successful nan superior predetermination to switch Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited and exploring a 2028 statesmanlike bid.

A Wednesday Emerson College canvass showed Democratic erstwhile U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra starring pinch 19%, followed by some Republican erstwhile Fox News big Steve Hilton and Steyer astatine 17%. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, had support from 11% of apt voters and Porter had 10%. San José Mayor Matt Mahan, erstwhile Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and authorities Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond were successful azygous digits. Twelve percent of voters were undecided, according to nan poll.

Top candidates, pinch nan objection of Thurmond, are slated to look successful a Thursday nighttime statement hosted by CBS California and nan San Francisco Examiner.