Gov. Gavin Newsom recalled in leaked footage that a store worker blamed his own policies to his face as they both witnessed a brazen theft unfold in California.
The video, first shared on X by a reporter with The San Francisco Standard, showed a portion of a Zoom meeting with Newsom and other elected California officials.
The governor said that the exchange came while he was checking out a store and observed a man “just walking out” of the store without paying.
“Why aren’t you stopping him,” Newsom said he asked the employee.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom kicks off his campaign for Proposition 1 at Los Angeles General Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Newsom explained that the store employee said they stopped pursuing shoplifters “because of the governor.”
“We don’t stop them because of the governor,”’ Newsom said. “The governor lowered the threshold and there is no accountability.”
After blaming Newsom for the crime, the worker allegedly gave Newsom a second glance and realized who she was speaking with.
“And then she looks at me twice, and then she freaks out, calls everyone over. She wants to take a photo,” Newsom recalled to the other elected officials during the Zoom call.
Costa Mesa, CA – January 18: California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference about the state’s Homekey program which transforms former office space, hotels, and other buildings into housing for those experiencing homelessness, at a former Motel 6 converted to apartments for the homeless in Costa Mesa on Thursday, January 18, 2024. (Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
“And I’m like, ‘No, I’m not taking a photo, we’re having a conversation. Where is your manager?'” the governor recalled to the elected officials, who were seen laughing.
“Why are you blaming the governor,” Newsom said.
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After the worker attributed the rise in brazen crime to Newsom lowering the “threshold” for serious crimes, the governor pushed back.
“That’s just not true,” Newsom told the store’s employee. “We have the tenth toughest in America– look it up, no one gives a d—.”
California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom was pressed about the homeless crisis in San Francisco, by late-night host Seth Meyers. (Late Night with Seth Meyers/Screenshot)
Following the exchange, Newsom asked why he had to pay for his goods while “everyone” could just “walk the h— right out” without facing consequences.
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“I was like, why am I spending $380 and everyone can walk the h— right out,” Newsom said.
The Foster sisters both said Governor Gavin Newsom was “the worst.” (Tayfun Coskun)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Newsom said that retail theft per capita in California is “17.0% lower than the average among states.”
The governor’s office also touted Newsom’s $1.1 billion investment to “fight crime, hire more police, and improve public safety.”
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The location of the store and the date of the incident were not revealed on the Zoom call.
Newsom’s office declined to provide further details on the incident to Fox News Digital.
Fox News’ Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
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