Larry Elder Faces Claims Of Abuse, Financial Misrepresentation

CALIFORNIA — California investigators are looking into whether GOP gubernatorial recall candidate Larry Elder failed to properly disclose all of his income sources, a requirement for all candidates in the recall election, according to multiple news reports.

The gubernatorial candidate is also facing allegations that he mistreated his former fiancee.

The state investigation, led by California's Fair Political Commission, launched after the state Democratic Party filed a complaint against the talk show host accusing him of misrepresenting his income.

The investigation into Elder was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Elder filed his income under his own business, Laurance A. Elder & Associates Inc., with the state after certifying his candidacy.

The California Democratic Party complained that Elder failed to disclose his interest and his own income. His business "appears to be a closely held corporation in which he owns more than a 10 percent business interest," the complaint alleged, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Under state election rules, candidates for public office and state employees are required to file a statement of economic interest to disclose all income, stocks, real estate, gifts and loans that provide income, according to the state.

Elder could face a penalty of $5,000 per violation if state regulators find that he misrepresented his full income, the Los Angeles Times reported.

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Claims that Elder may have misrepresented his finances came just a few days after allegations surfaced that he emotionally mistreated former fiancee Alexandra Datig.

Datig told The Associated Press that Elder brandished a gun during a heated argument between the two in 2015. Elder has denied that he ever pulled a gun out during a dispute. Datig said she did not report the incident to the police and moved out of a residence they shared after a financial settlement was agreed on.

Elder tweeted last week that he was "more energized than ever to fix this state" and characterized claims of mistreatment toward Datig as "salacious allegations."

Kevin Faulconer, a former San Diego mayor and Republican candidate, called on Elder to withdraw from the race, saying in a tweet last week that he was "unfit to serve."

Elder recently entered the spotlight as the GOP's front-runner in the race to unseat Gov. Gavin Newsom after he led a number of recent voter insight polls over rival candidates.

“I think strong conservatives are most likely to dismiss these sorts of charges as false and as driven by opponents of Elder who want to take him down. This is a highly partisan issue,” Menlo College political scientist Melissa Michelson said.

Forty-five candidates will appear on gubernatorial recall ballots mailed to Californians all over the Golden State next month — but few of them have generated much excitement among voters on either side of the political divide.

A staggering 40 percent of likely voters were undecided on who should replace Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, according to a recent poll from the University of California, Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies.

Voters ultimately will decide Newsom's and Elder's fates in a Sept. 14 election. Mail-in ballots have already arrived in mailboxes across the Golden State.

On the recall ballot, voters will be asked whether Newsom should be recalled and who should replace him. If more than 50 percent of voters cast a ballot to recall Newsom, the replacement candidate with the largest share of votes will win the governor's seat.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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