An FBI agent is expected to return to the stand Monday in the corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao.
The defense is expected to continue its cross-examination of FBI Special Agent Katherine Barclay in federal court in Oakland.
For the past three days, Barclay has testified about photos, texts, calls, videos and financial records as prosecutors try to prove that Thao, her longtime partner Andre Jones and businessmen David and Andy Duong were part of a bribery and corruption scheme.
Prosecutors allege the scheme was intended to help Thao get elected and siphon money to Jones in exchange for favors to the Duong family, which owns California Waste Solutions, Oakland’s recycling contractor.
Barclay testified about texts between Thao and Jones about trouble paying rent and a $6,000 payment to restore their electricity.
On Friday, audio was played in court of a 2023 phone call between Thao and co-defendant Andy Duong, who recorded the call.
In the call, Thao vents about Councilmembers Janani Ramachandran and Treva Reid criticizing her trade mission to Vietnam and tells Duong he’ll have to pick a side.
Andy Duong’s attorney argues there is no audio proof his client bribed Thao and no evidence the Duongs ever received any of the city contracts or contract extensions prosecutors claim were part of the deal.
Prosecutors said simply pursuing a “pay for access” deal is a crime, even if it ultimately fell apart.
