Gov. Gavin Newsom sent prepaid ‘burner’ phones to California tech CEOs
California Gov. Gavin Newsom sent inexpensive phones with prepaid service to leaders of technology companies headquartered in the state, inviting them to contact him directly should they “ever need anything,” Politico reported Tuesday.
About 100 CEOs of technology companies headquartered in California received a package over the last month containing the phones, sometimes called “burners,” programmed with a direct number for Newsom along with a personalized note from the governor. The idea to send tech CEOs the phones was Newsom’s, a source told Politico, who added that the phones have already created some “valuable interactions.”
One note addressed to a California tech firm’s CEO was printed on official letterhead and included a handwritten addition urging the CEO to reach out. It read: “If you ever need anything, I’m a phone call away,” Politico reported. The CEO’s identity was kept anonymous.
The phones were reportedly paid for by the California Protocol Foundation, a nonprofit primarily funded by businesses and other nonprofit groups that was founded in 2002 to help pay for gubernatorial travel and expenses associated with events such as inaugurations and State of the State speeches. The foundation has covered expenses for Newsom’s official trips to Italy, El Salvador and China, The Sacramento Bee reported.
A spokesperson from the California Department of Technology said the department was not involved with Newsom’s burner phones.
