As the People’s Attorney, Attorney General Rob Bonta has hit the ground running in his first few months — seeking justice and securing prosecutions against those who harm California. 

From efforts to tackle gun violence to securing criminal sentences, his efforts leading the California Department of Justice have drawn praise from political observers and journalists alike. The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote, “Bonta off to a fast start as Attorney General.”

Under his leadership, the Department of Justice has secured arrests and convictions of sex traffickers, gun smugglers, and those who prey upon children. 

Bonta believes that law enforcement and first responders are essential to public safety. He is working to build a stronger relationship between our communities and law enforcement and supporting efforts to enhance law enforcement’s ability to respond, investigate, and prosecute serious offenses. Bonta launched an initiative to help cities and counties reduce local backlogs in processing rape kits to more quickly get justice for victims and announced a new effort that increases the Department’s capacity to assist local law enforcement with toxicology needs. Under his leadership, the Department of Justice is also availing resources to support local law enforcement agencies combat organized retail theft and expanding resources to help fight hate crimes. 

At Bonta’s direction, the Department is putting more manpower into investigating and prosecuting corporate polluters who violate California law and endanger our health, and the Department is battling multi-national pharmaceutical companies for their role fueling the opioid crisis.

As Attorney General, Bonta is taking on schemes to defraud and cheat law-abiding Californians -- wildfire victims, senior citizens, servicemembers and consumers. He is increasing transparency at the Department and expanding access to criminal justice data to enhance public safety.

About Rob:

The son of leaders in the farmworkers’ movement, Rob saw firsthand how those without access to power and wealth are too often cheated and taken advantage of by those with both. Rob’s parents taught him that harm done to any one person is a crime against all of us, and he decided to become a public attorney so he could win justice for the people like the farmworker families he knew as a kid. As a Legislator, he became a national leader on criminal justice issues and passed laws to strengthen consumer and worker protections. Born to a proud Filipina immigrant, he is the first Filipino American to serve as California’s Attorney General.

After graduating magna cum laude from Brown University, earning his law degree from Stanford Law School, and clerking for a federal judge, Nathan served as an Assistant US Attorney for the Central District of California. Nathan prosecuted over a hundred cases, from going after corrupt government officials and tax evaders to narcotics traffickers and violent gang members. In the 1990s, when California was ravaged by fires, floods, and a massive earthquake, Nathan formed and spearheaded the Los Angeles Disaster Fraud Task Force— going after financial predators who stole relief dollars intended for those most in need. Leading 15 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, Nathan’s team brought over 70 prosecutions and recovered millions of dollars for victims. In the midst of the global financial crisis of 2008, Nathan once again answered the call to service and was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as an Assistant Attorney General of the United States overseeing the Department of Justice’s Tax Division. After unanimous confirmation by the United States Senate, Nathan led a team of over 350 civil, criminal and appellate lawyers, bringing cases in all 50 states. When he returned to California, Nathan continued to fight against corruption as a Commissioner and President of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission— where he held city leaders accountable for their actions. Nathan is running for California Attorney General in 2022 to address rising crime, provide solutions to our homelessness crisis, and put an end to the fentanyl epidemic sweeping our communities.