Allegations fly as recall vote looms for Newsom in California



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LOS ANGELES (AP) – In a TV commercial blitz and last-minute rally, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday urged voters to reverse an impending recall vote that could impeach him, while Senior Republican Larry Elder widely criticized the media for what he described as double standards that isolated Newsom from criticism and scrutiny throughout the contest.

The sunny late summer weekend was a whirlwind of political activity, as candidates staged rallies, continued bus tours, and crowded the television airwaves with commercials offering their closing arguments before the election which ends Tuesday.

Newsom – who is expecting President Joe Biden on Monday for a closing rally in Long Beach – was in a largely Hispanic area on the northern outskirts of Los Angeles, where he sought to increase turnout with the key vote. block.

Elder was also in Los Angeles, where he was joined by activist and former actress Rose McGowan, who repeated his claims in recent days that Newsom’s wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom tried to persuade her in 2017 not to not publicize his allegations of sexual misconduct. against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

Siebel Newsom’s office called the allegations “complete fabrication.” In a brief interview with The Associated Press, Newsom called McGowan’s claims a “classic last-minute crush” from one of Elder’s supporters.

The governor called Elder desperate and understanding, saying McGowan’s claims about his wife “just show you how bad things are in the countryside these days.”

He echoed his previous criticism of Elder, saying the conservative talk show host and lawyer “doesn’t believe women have the right to their own reproductive freedoms, he’s fiercely opposed to Roe v. Wade,” doesn’t believe there is a glass ceiling, doesn’t believe in pay equity laws.

During her appearance, McGowan spoke warmly about Elder and lambasted Hollywood Democrats who she said traumatized her life. She now lives in Mexico.

“Do I agree with him on all points?” No, ”McGowan said. “So what. He’s the better candidate. He’s the better man.

The last-minute exchange highlighted growing tensions during the election, which largely contributed to the frustration over Newsom’s pandemic orders that shut down schools and businesses during the pandemic. Voting ends Tuesday. A recent poll shows Newsom will likely keep his job.

As Newsom’s “first partner”, Siebel Newsom, an actress turned documentary filmmaker, has championed gender equality and the treatment society gives to women and families.

McGowan, 48, known for her role in the “Scream” film franchise, was one of the first of dozens of women to accuse Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, making her a major figure in the movement. #MeToo.

Elder, who could become the state’s first black governor, targeted some of his harshest remarks on what he described as biased media coverage.

Earlier this week, her walking tour of homeless settlements in Los Angeles’ Venice Beach neighborhood was cut short after a cyclist wearing a gorilla mask threw an egg at Elder and then hit a member of her. entourage. The confrontation sparked strong reactions on Twitter, with conservatives accusing the incident of being immediately labeled a racist attack because Elder is a conservative.

If he had been a Democrat, “that would have been a big story,” Elder said. He also said McGowan’s accusations had been largely ignored by the media, but argued that if similar charges had been brought against him, “that’s all you’d be talking about.”

“It’s a double standard,” he said. “I’ve had it up to here.”

Emails posted to Twitter by McGowan showed that she had had contact with Newsom’s wife, which her office confirmed but said their communication was “as sexual assault survivors and as a Jennifer’s former ability to lead the Representation Project, an organization that fights against the limitation of stereotypes and gender norms. “

One of McGowan’s main claims is that in a 2017 phone conversation, Newsom’s wife referred to a law firm that worked with Weinstein and asked what the firm could do “to get you back. happy”.

McGowan said on Sunday that she did not recognize the name of the company at the time. “I had no idea who it was. So I didn’t say anything and hung up on me. It was my last contact with her, ”she said.

The election will determine whether Newsom can complete his first term or whether he will be removed from office more than a year earlier. Voters are asking themselves two questions: should Newsom be recalled and, if so, who should replace him? If it obtains a majority vote on the first question, the second question with the names of 46 replacement candidates is irrelevant. Otherwise, the largest voter among the replacement candidates would become governor.

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