Government Suspends Support of Charity Run by Sacramento Mayoral Candidate

Federal officials investigating St. Hope Academy, a charity run by the Sacramento mayoral candidate and former NBA player Kevin Johnson, have suspended the government’s support of the group after uncovering possible criminal and financial irregularities, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Among the charges against Mr. Johnson is that he asked members of the federal AmeriCorps program to run errands, wash his car, and drive him to personal appointments. The findings have been given to the U.S. attorney’s office in Sacramento for review.

Gerald Walpin, inspector general at the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees the AmeriCorps volunteer program, said that existing evidence is sufficient to warrant “that immediate action be taken” before the investigation is ended.

Steve Maviglio, Mr. Johnson’s campaign manager, said, “The timing is politically motivated. The dramatization of what are administrative errors is politically motivated.” Mr. Johnson was not available to comment, the newspaper said.

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