Thao, who faces myriad challenges ahead of the Nov. 5 election, said it is imperative that the FBI quickly clear her name when she faces a recall vote, the embattled mayor told the Chronicle of San Francisco.

Nearly four months have passed since the federal agency searched her home, but Thao said she has “nothing” from them, even though her lawyer sent a letter to the FBI demanding answers.

“It is not appropriate to hear nothing from them. … We know this will weigh heavily on the minds of our voters when they go to the voting booth,” she said. “But we know that here in the United States, you are innocent until proven guilty. And I want voters to remember that.

Thao has been linked to allegations of political corruption surrounding the powerful Duong family, accused of money laundering and operating a widespread bribery scheme targeting elected officials. Andy Duong and David Duong, owners of California Waste Solutions, donated substantial funds to Thao’s city council and mayor’s campaigns, according to a report from the Fair Political Practices Commission.

The nonpartisan California agency oversees state ethics and alleged that in 2019, Andy Duong gave Thao $9,900 for his city council campaign by laundering it through 13 people. The FPPC wrote that Andy Duong “created a campaign contribution laundering scheme to benefit his family business, California Waste Solutions.”

The Duongs allegedly used “straw donors,” people who donate money to a campaign and are secretly reimbursed by the real donor, to hide the money they were giving to Thao, according to Oakland’s political watchdog, the Public Ethics Commission.

The FBI raided the homes of David Duong and Andy Duong on June 20, the same day the agency showed up at Thao’s home.

Thao expressed shock at the FBI raid and strongly defended herself against accusations of accepting bribes and participating in other shady practices.

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“I don’t have a criminal record,” she said this week. “I don’t even own any guns or anything like that.”

The effort to recall Thao came before the FBI’s scrutiny of him was even made public. His decision to fire Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong in February 2023 sparked a movement of critics also concerned about the city’s crime and homeless problems.