Thread by @kdlaw

🧵 On Monday, I was followed and confronted by a group that peddles medical disinformation, promotes fake COVID-19 treatments, and is under investigation by Congress for stealing millions of dollars from consumers. It was a terrifying experience. /1

For context, in addition to my job as the chief executive of a law firm, I am the President of the @MedBoardOfCA. I have served on the Board for 6 years as a gubernatorial appointee. /2

To start the day, the group parked their rental SUV near the end of my driveway, and then flew a drone over my house. They watched my daughter drive herself to school and watched me walk out of my house, get in my car, and take my two kids to school. /3

At least one of the members of the group had flown across the country to stake me out. They followed me to work, and parked the SUV head-to-head with my car in the parking garage that is attached to my office building. /4

That evening, when I left the office building and entered the parking garage four men jumped out of the SUV with cameras and recording equipment and confronted me as I tried to get into my car to drive home. /5

When contacted by law enforcement, the group indicated that it just wanted to interview me. Not surprisingly, they never contacted the Board's press office to request an interview. They also never contacted the company I work for or me directly to ask for an interview. /6

Instead, they ambushed me in a dark parking garage when they suspected I would be alone. The private investigator traveling with them told law enforcement they are producing a video about me that will include footage of my house and neighborhood, and, of course, me. /7

Like so many public officials, I volunteer my time and energy to public service because I believe in giving back to the state and the communities that have given my family and me so much. /8

My father was a physician, and I am committed to protecting the integrity of the profession he loved, and to ensuring that all Californians have access to high quality, safe medical care. /9

That means protecting Californians from bad doctors, and ensuring disinformation and misinformation do not detract from our work to protect patients and consumers. /10

I will continue to do this work even when it is hard, and notwithstanding that there is an organized effort to scare me away from it. /11

COVID-19 has killed almost 800,000 Americans, and we must remain vigilant against new variants and against those that peddle fake, dangerous misinformation. /12

Vaccines are safe, effective, and free - they prevent serious illness and save lives. You can learn more here: covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/ /end