Rob Bonta, who assumed office as California attorney general on Wednesday on the appointment of Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, attempted to make it legal for members of the Communist Party to work in state government while he was a member of the State Assembly.
The bill, AB 22, barely passed the Assembly in 2017, as reported at the time by KQED.
It drew bipartisan opposition, and Bonta eventually pulled the bill, noting that he had been unaware of the distress it had caused military veterans and residents who had fled communist regimes.
"Through my conversations with veterans and members of the Vietnamese American community, I heard compelling stories of how AB 22 caused real distress and hurt for proud and honorable people," Bonta said at the time. "For that, I am sorry."
His office had not responded to Newsmax for a request for comment on Thursday evening.
Bonta said he had intended for the bill to be a "cleanup" effort to remove language that violated the constitutional right of free association. He said his bill would have required "evidence and due process to prove that conduct" was threatening to the United States.
Six Democrats joined Republicans in voting against the bill after GOP members made arguments against it. Eight other Democrats abstained.
"Why in the world are we so generous about Communist Party members?" Orange County Assemblyman Steven Choi asked, noting that he had served in South Korea and faced communist North Koreans at the Demilitarized Zone.
Orange County Republican Travis Allen said the bill was "blatantly offensive" to Californians.
"In my district alone, we have the Vietnamese Americans who had to flee a communist regime," he said. "Which is why they’re now in Orange County."
Newsom tapped Bonta to replace Xavier Becerra, who left the office after being chosen by President Joe Biden as secretary of Health and Human Services.
"Rob represents what makes California great — our desire to take on righteous fights and reverse systematic injustices," Newsom said Wednesday. "Growing up with parents steeped in social justice movements, Rob has become a national leader in the fight to repair our justice system and defend the rights of every Californian.
"And most importantly, at this moment when so many communities are under attack for who they are and who they love, Rob has fought to strengthen hate crime laws and protect our communities from the forces of hate," the governor said. "He will be a phenomenal attorney general, and I can’t wait to see him get to work."
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