PG&E, 7 others subpoenaed in widening San Francisco public corruption probe

Mohammed Nuru, director of San Francisco Public Works, center, gestures as he leaves a federal courthouse with attorney Ismail Ramsey, right, in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Mohammed Nuru, director of San Francisco Public Works, center, gestures as he leaves a federal courthouse with attorney Ismail Ramsey, right, in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Photo: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press Photo: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close PG&E, 7 others subpoenaed in widening San Francisco public corruption probe 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

Eight companies and nonprofits have been subpoenaed as part of a wide-ranging public corruption probe, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera announced Wednesday.

The investigation stems from former San Francisco Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru's arrest on federal corruption and fraud charges two weeks ago; also charged was restaurateur Nick Bovis, the proprietor of the now-closed Lefty O'Doul's.

Herrera said his office is holding a joint public corruption investigation with City Controller Ben Rosenfield that is separate from the FBI's case.

Herrera announced that utility company Pacific Gas & Electric; construction companies Webcor, Pankow Builders and Clark Construction; recycling company Recology; and three nonprofits, Lefty O'Doul's Foundation for Kids, San Francisco Parks Alliance and San Francisco Clean City Coalition, have all been issued subpoenas.

Bovis is the president of the Lefty O'Doul's Foundation for Kids board of directors.

Most of the subpoenas ask for all documents relating to donations or payments made to the Lefty O'Doul's Foundation for Kids, San Francisco Parks Alliance and San Francisco Clean City Coalition. PG&E's subpoena also asks for "all documents related to any solicitation by any City employee or official for a gift of money, goods or services from PG&E ... for a holiday party for the City and County of San Francisco."

"PG&E and its employees work hard every day to uphold both the letter and spirit of the law and the company’s own ethical standards," PG&E said in an emailed statement. "We acknowledge receiving the subpoena, are reviewing it now and we will respond."

According to the Examiner, Webcor, Pankow and Recology all allegedly funneled money through the Lefty O'Doul's foundation to throw a $30,000 holiday party for public-works staffers.

"We’re following the facts, and we’re following the money," Herrera said in a press release. "We are going to follow the evidence wherever it leads. We will get to the bottom of this. San Franciscans deserve no less."

Federal investigators say Nuru, who resigned his post this week, and Bovis attempted to bribe an SFO airport commissioner to give Bovis concessions space in the airport. The federal government also alleges that Nuru tried to get city contracts awarded to Bovis, and had contractors employed by the city do work for free on his vacation home.

You can read all of the subpoenas on Herrera's site.

Katie Dowd is an SFGATE Senior Digital Editor. Contact: katie.dowd@sfgate.com | Twitter: @katiedowd