Former Santa Clara City Councilmember Anthony Becker was sentenced to a 40-day jail term that makes him eligible for a work program alternative to time in a jail cell.
He was convicted of lying under oath to the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury, a felony, and for disclosing a confidential draft Civil Grand Jury report to the San Francisco 49ers and a local media entity, a misdemeanor.
Superior Court Judge Javier Alcala sentenced Becker to 40 days in custody, with two years on probation. The sentencing will allow Becker to participate in a three-days-per-week work program under supervision of the Sheriff’s Office.
In December 2024, a jury convicted the councilman of lying to the Civil Grand Jury when he falsely denied that he leaked its draft report that was critical of Becker, and several of his city council colleagues, for their unethical relationship with the 49ers and for putting the team’s interests above those of the city.
Becker, 39, leaked the then-secret Civil Grand Jury report – entitled “Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Santa Clara City Council” – to Rahul Chandhok, who was the team’s then Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer and lobbyist. The leak of the confidential document came several days before it was scheduled to be published. Evidence showed that Becker also leaked the report to a small, local media outlet. The jury also convicted Becker of a misdemeanor for violating his duty to not disclose the draft report.
“Public officials are entrusted by voters to honestly advocate for the people they serve,” said District Attorney Jeff Rosen. “Becker breached that trust. He undermined the justice system by lying under oath to benefit himself and his political benefactor without a care for the impact his selfish actions would have on the people he was elected to serve. We are satisfied that he has been held accountable.”
On Oct. 5, 2022, the City of Santa Clara was provided with a confidential draft copy of the Civil Grand Jury’s report, as required by law. The report was scheduled for formal release on Oct. 10, 2022. On Oct. 7, news reports revealed details of the grand jury’s report with at least one outlet publishing a complete copy of the draft report.
The same Civil Grand Jury that issued the report then investigated the source of the leak. Becker denied to the members of the Civil Grand Jury that he leaked the report. Chandhok later testified under oath before the Criminal Grand Jury and at trial that Becker sent him the report prior to Oct. 10. Becker also admitted to a fellow council member that he leaked the report to a local media outlet.
“The 49ers bankrolled Becker’s political career,” Rosen said in a statement. In total, the 49ers provided over $3 million through independent expenditure committees to benefit Becker’s successful 2020 city council campaign and his failed 2022 mayoral bid. Becker lost his bid for re-election in November 2024.
The conviction prevents Becker from ever again holding elected office in California.
