California Attorney General Rob Bonta faces calls for an investigation from Republican challenger Michael Gates and the California GOP. The inquiry is centered around potential political funding from Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings’ family, which might have influenced Bonta’s lawsuit against Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
“Rob Bonta has turned his taxpayer-funded office into a favor factory for his political bosses and donors,” Gates stated to Fox News Digital. He accused Bonta of pursuing litigation against a competitor to benefit a company that supports his Political Action Committee (PAC).
The allegations arise from campaign-finance records showing a $1 million contribution from Hastings’ wife, Patty Quillin, to Smart Justice California Action Fund on March 16, 2022. Subsequently, Smart Justice contributed $150,000 to a committee supporting Bonta for Attorney General.
California Republican Party Chairwoman Corrin Rankin expressed concern over Bonta’s motives, questioning whether consumer protection or political favors were the driving forces behind the litigation.
“This smells like Sacramento at its worst,” Rankin told Fox News Digital. “Rob Bonta takes Netflix money, then uses his office to kneecap a Netflix rival.”
Bonta’s press office denied the allegations in a statement, emphasizing that the lawsuit against Paramount was grounded in antitrust analysis and the protection of competition and consumer choice.
“In February 2026, our office announced an investigation into the purchase of Warner Bros. by either Netflix or Paramount,” the press office stated, maintaining the lawsuit was based on facts and legal principles.
Bonta’s complaint argued the merger would grant the combined entity roughly 27% control over wide-release film distribution and cable channel licensing. However, the Justice Department concluded after an investigation that the merger posed no threat to competition.
The acquisition has gained approval from Britain’s competition regulator, making Bonta’s litigation the primary regulatory hurdle. A federal trial is scheduled for March, following which Paramount agreed to delay closing until five days after a ruling.
Fox News Digital reached out to Netflix, Hastings, and Assemblymember Mia Bonta for comment but did not receive immediate responses.
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