Michelle Steel Honors Vietnamese Communist Officials

Jun

2024

PRESS RELEASE

Michelle Steel Honors Vietnamese Communist Officials

In a stunning display of hypocrisy, Southern California MAGA Congresswoman Michelle Steel is under fire for honoring members of the Vietnamese government with official certificates of recognition. Earlier this week, Steel delivered a speech on the floor of Congress, calling for Vietnam to be labeled a nation of particular concern for its persecution of Buddhist leader Thich Minh Tue. Yet, just a few years ago, Steel publicly honored Ho Xuan Son, the Consulate General of Vietnam, with a certificate of recognition from her position as Orange County Supervisor.

Local activists have condemned Steel for this blatant contradiction, pointing out her cozy relationship with the very government she publicly condemns. This scandal adds to the ongoing controversy surrounding Steel's ties to corrupt foreign governments. Reports from the Wall Street Journal and the Orange County Register alleged her husband, Shawn Steel, was linked to efforts by Chinese foreign nationals to influence the Trump administration through political donations Shawn Steel facilitated.

"Not only does the Steel family peddle access to Communist officials — Michelle Steelhonors them with recognition," said campaign spokesperson Sean Gregory. "Derek Tran’s family fled the communist regime in Vietnam and he joins Vietnamese community leaders in condemning Michelle Steel’s actions.”

Michelle Steel's corruption is particularly egregious given that she represents the 45th District, home to the largest Vietnamese community in the country. Her consistent votes against the interests of middle-class Southern California families, local pay-to-play schemes and sweetheart deals beneficial to her wealthy campaign donors, and extreme anti-abortion crusades have made her one of the most corrupt and vulnerable Republican members of Congress.

Derek Tran, the Democratic challenger for the 45th District, brings a stark contrast to Steel's corrupt practices. As the son of refugees who fled the communist regime in Vietnam, Derek Tran knows firsthand the dangers of such governments. After serving in the U.S. Army, Tran dedicated his life to public service, fighting for justice and accountability.

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California’s 45th is a Congressional District representing portions of Orange and Los Angeles Counties in Southern California. A majority-minority district, the District has the second largest AAPI population (36.97%) of any Congressional District, and the largest Vietnamese community in the country. President Biden won the current district lines by +6 points and it has a +6 point Democratic registration advantage. It includes all or part of the Cities of Garden Grove, Westminster, Cerritos, Buena Park, Placentia, Hawaiian Gardens, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Artesia, Los Alamitos, La Palma, Brea, Lakewood, and Fullerton, as well as the unincorporated community of Rossmoor.

The DCCC has listed it as a “District In Play.”

Use of Derek Tran's military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Dept. of Defense or U.S. Army.