In leaked footage, Gov. Gavin Newsom was confronted by a store worker who blamed his policies for a brazen theft in California.
The worker claimed they didn’t stop shoplifters because of the governor’s policies.
Newsom disputed this, stating that California has strict laws and pushed back against the worker’s accusations.
“Why aren’t you stopping him,” Newsom said to an employee.
Newsom said the employee told him they quit stopping shoplifters “because of the governor.”
“‘We don’t stop them because of the governor,'” Newsom quoted the employee saying. “The governor lowered the threshold and there is no accountability.”
He also questioned why he had to pay for goods when others could walk out without consequences.
“And then she looks at me twice, and then she freaks out, calls everyone over. She wants to take a photo,” Newsom said.
“And I’m like, ‘No, I’m not taking a photo, we’re having a conversation. Where is your manager?'” he recalled.
“Why are you blaming the governor,” Newsom said.
In a Zoom call about a mental health proposition, Gov. Gavin Newsom says he was at a Target and saw someone walk out without paying.
He asked a worker why the person steals and they blamed the Governor before looking at him twice and recognizing him.
“I was like, why I am… pic.twitter.com/zpLFtNwiSZ
— Gabriel Lorenzo Greschler (@ggreschler) January 31, 2024
The employee said Newsom had lowered the “threshold” for crimes.
“That’s just not true,” Newsom said. “We have the tenth toughest in America– look it up, no one gives a d—.”
Newsom questioned why he must pay when “everyone” can simply “walk the h— right out” with no consequences.
“I was like, why am I spending $380 and everyone can walk the h— right out,” Newsom said.
Newsom’s office defended his record on retail theft, citing lower rates and a $1.1 billion investment to fight crime.
The specific location and date of the incident were not disclosed.