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 Bonta's decision to file a 12-state lawsuit in federal court to block Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros.

Gates told Fox News Digital that the financial relationship "warranted an investigation," accusing Bonta of turning his office "into a favor factory for his political bosses and donors" by pursuing politically motivated litigation against a competitor of a company that has financially supported his political action committee (PAC).

In February 2026, Bonta's office announced an investigation into the purchase of Warner Bros. by either Netflix or Paramount. Paramount has agreed not to close the deal 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 claim the lawsuit is a political favor to Netflix aimed at protecting its streaming monopoly. Gates stated, "This all warrants an investigation into his activities to uncover the full truth about Bonta's conduct," further describing the situation as "reeking of corruption" and "smelling like Sacramento at its worst."

California Governor Gavin Newsom has been pictured alongside Bonta at public events, though no direct comment from the governor was included in the reports.

Sources