The Exchange
The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, recently found himself in a tense exchange with a store employee after he witnessed a man leaving the store without paying. Governor Newsom questioned the employee as to why they didn’t stop the shoplifter, to which the employee reportedly replied, “We don’t stop them because of the governor.”
The Blame Game
According to Newsom, the store employee attributed the rise in shoplifting to the governor lowering the threshold for serious crimes and removing accountability. The governor vehemently denied these claims, stating that California has the tenth toughest laws in the country and challenging the employee to look it up.
A Surprising Recognition
During the course of their conversation, the store employee allegedly had a moment of realization and recognized Governor Newsom. She then called everyone over, wanting to take a photo with him. However, the governor declined, expressing his desire to have a meaningful conversation instead.
A Question of Fairness
After the encounter, Governor Newsom expressed his frustration at the situation, questioning why he had to pay for his purchases while others could simply walk out without facing consequences. He highlighted the need for fairness and accountability in dealing with shoplifting incidents.
The Facts
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for Governor Newsom stated that retail theft per capita in California is actually lower than the national average. The governor’s office also emphasized Newsom’s $1.1 billion investment in fighting crime and improving public safety.
The specific location of the store and the date of the incident were not disclosed during the Zoom call, and Governor Newsom’s office declined to provide further details.
Reporting by Fox News’ Jamie Joseph.