Gavin Newsom recalls how Target clerk blamed him for California retail theft — before realizing who he was

Gavin Newsom revealed Wednesday that he once witnessed a shoplifter steal from Target without any interference from workers, one of whom blamed the California governor for emboldened criminals in the state before she realized who he actually was.

The Golden State leader recalled the awkward interaction at the start of a Zoom forum about a mental health proposition he’s backing, and as California continues to deal with a retail theft crisis, the Mercury News reported.

Newsom said he was on the Target checkout line when he and a store worker saw the thief waltz out of the store with items he didn’t pay for, according to footage posted online.

“I said, ‘why didn’t you stop him,’” Newsom said. “She goes, ‘oh, the governor.’ Swear to God, true story on my mom’s grave. ‘The governor lowered the threshold, there’s no accountability.’ I said that’s just not true.”

Newsom then said he told the clerk, who still apparently didn’t know who he was, that California’s Prop. 47 makes it a felony for property thefts totaling $950 or higher – the 10th toughest in the nation.   

“No one gives a damn about that,” he said, noting the clerk still blamed the governor.