California Attorney General Rob Bonta is under scrutiny following allegations from Republican nominee Michael Gates and the California GOP that political donations connected to Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings' family influenced a multi-state lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by Bonta in federal court in California, seeks to block Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros.

Gates called for an investigation into the financial ties, stating to Fox News Digital that "Rob Bonta has turned his taxpayer-funded office into a favor factory for his political bosses and donors. He's pursuing politically-motivated litigation against a competitor for a company that's bankrolled his PAC."

The California Attorney General's office announced in February 2026 an investigation into the purchase of Warner Bros. by either Netflix or Paramount. Paramount has agreed not to close the acquisition until five days after a ruling on the merits expected in June 2027, with a federal trial scheduled for March.

Fox News Digital reported in 2022 that an independent committee was working to support Bonta and other progressive prosecutors. Critics argue that Bonta's actions appear to protect Netflix's streaming monopoly, raising questions about the motivations behind the lawsuit.

Additional remarks from critics include claims that the situation "reeks of corruption" and that Bonta is "wholly unfit to serve as our state's top law enforcement officer." One statement summarized the controversy as smelling "like Sacramento at its worst."

Sources