A federal criminal case is moving ahead against Sonoma real estate adviser Ken Mattson, but some of the people he allegedly defrauded fear the charges could be dropped or pardoned.
They point to Mattson’s connections to President Donald Trump, who has pardoned others convicted of similar financial crimes. According to the Press Democrat, in response, the grassroots group Wake Up Sonoma has successfully urged Congressman Mike Thompson to call for a state investigation. Thompson has written to California’s Attorney General, asking him to look into potential state charges against Mattson.
While the Attorney General’s office has not commented, the group is now encouraging Mattson’s alleged victims to also contact state and local officials.