California Assemblywoman Mia Bonta has been feeling the heat since Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon appointed her to chair the Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5. This same committee oversees her husband, state Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office.

Ethics much?

Many in the state are alleging nepotism and disregard of ethics with this appointment, and KCRA reporter Ashley Zavala has stuck to this story like hair gel on Gavin Newsom.

Zavala caught Bonta in the halls of the Capitol and asked her this one question:

“Do you plan to recuse yourself from DOJ items that come into your committee?”

Bonta was visibly exasperated at Zavala for dogging her (this is what reporters do) and said she had a statement. She and Zavala pulled over to a quieter corner, and Bonta read from a prepared statement.

Someone needs to give Bonta media training.

WATCH:

WATCH: California Assemblymember Mia Bonta refuses to answer questions, won't say if she'll recuse herself from overseeing her husband, Attorney General Rob Bonta's budget:

"There is no violation of ethical rules in my holding this position." pic.twitter.com/Jrd5UytUKK

— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) February 17, 2023

Here is the statement Assemblywoman Bonta read to Zavala, in case you couldn’t hear it past the breathlessness, sighs of exasperation, and mumbles:

As legislators we have an obligation to ensure that the people of California have absolute confidence in the legislative and budget process. We have spoken with the Assembly ethics attorneys who agreed that there is no violation of ethical rules in my holding this position.

My district is amongst the highest impacted by gun violence and the carceral system, and the Speaker appointed me knowing that I would be a voice for the victims and communities affected by issues of public safety.

That being said, any budget proposal regarding the DOJ that comes under my purview, on Budget Sub 5, will go through a transparent and open budget process, including publicly posting agendas, having the entire subcommittee voting on recommendations to amend, approve, or deny budget proposals, and having these discussions happen in an open session, broadcasted and archived to be later viewed and voted on by the committee, and ultimately the entire legislature.

That’s my statement.

This is nothing new. All Legislative committees do this already. It is a typical, canned statement to avoid further questioning. Zavala wasn’t having any of it, so she asked her the question again.

Bonta practically had a meltdown.

“I am offering truth. If you really want to offer truth…” Bonta said.

Truth? Really?! Truth is straight talk, and Bonta is tacitly avoiding being straight. The fact that she issued this prepared statement shows she has no desire of offering truth; she just wants to shut Zavala up. As Shakespeare wrote, “The Lady doth protest too much, methinks.”

Kudos to Zavala, who has been like a dog with a bone on this blatant coloring outside ethical lines. But as RedState reported Friday, it flows from the very top of the executive branch, and a fish rots from the head.

Zavala followed Bonta to the elevator and emphasized this most excellent point: Mia Bonta campaigned on education and working families, and has experience with educational non-profits. Why not choose an educational committee, where she would be better suited and wouldn’t be subject to possible ethics violations? Bonta took even more offense,

“Oh! There you go…”

Bonta again refused to answer the question, attempting to turn the tables on Zavala.

“If you are being a fair reporter, air the statement that I gave.”

Zavala still would not let her get away with the dodging, naming Dr. Joaquin Arambula (who was on a budget committee in prior years), as well as other Assembly members who would be infinitely more qualified to take the lead on this.

Stick a fork in her; Bonta was done. A person who appeared to be her aide assisted Bonta in tucking her tail and running into the elevator to escape Zavala’s line of questioning.

If Bonta plans to remain as chair of Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5, she better get used to being in the hot seat. If Zavala and others keep on it, Bonta will continue to feel the coals on her hindquarters.

As it should be.