Ex-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao directed top administrator to talk shop with alleged bribers

OAKLAND – Oakland’s top administrator texted and visited with two key players in ex-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s alleged “pay to play” bribery scheme about a housing project potentially worth $66 million, according to a trove of documents released this week.

The revelation adds to an ever-emerging picture of alleged backroom dealing and political favoritism throughout Thao’s turbulent tenure, as revealed in more than 11,700 pages of city documents that were seized by federal agents through a subpoena last year and made public this week.