The Battle for California’s 17th Congressional District Heats Up Early
The race for California’s 17th Congressional District is already gaining attention, despite the primary not being until early June. Incumbent Ro Khanna faces a challenge from tech founder Ethan Agarwal, backed by prominent tech billionaires. The competition has taken a negative turn, with Agarwal entering the race in response to Khanna’s support for a proposed California ballot measure imposing a 5% tax on residents with assets over $1 billion.
Agarwal has been focusing on Khanna’s stock trades during his time in office as a key point of attack.
Uncovering Past Legal Troubles
Recently, newsrooms covering the race have received anonymous packages containing digital court documents revealing Agarwal’s legal history. The documents detail a $683,000 personal judgment against him for failing to make payments on a $2 million copyright settlement with Universal Music Group. The dispute arose from allegations that his company Aaptiv utilized copyrighted music without permission in its workout app. Additionally, a nearly $2 million lawsuit from a landlord related to Aaptiv’s office at One World Trade Center was filed in 2023 after Aaptiv terminated its lease during the COVID pandemic. Another lawsuit from 2019 claimed that adult content was downloaded from Agarwal’s IP address, filed by Malibu Media, a company known for pursuing similar cases across the country.
While the landlord case was dropped and the Malibu Media lawsuit settled without a finding of liability, the UMG judgment remains a significant issue. Agarwal personally guaranteed the $2 million settlement before halting payments near the end, leading to further negotiations between the parties.
Facing the Past Head-On
Agarwal took a proactive approach in addressing the negative press surrounding his legal troubles. When the New York Post published a headline linking him to downloading adult content, Agarwal shared the article on social media, emphasizing the importance of transparency and authenticity in politics. He acknowledged the embarrassing nature of the allegations but highlighted the need for honesty among political candidates.
Support from prominent figures like investor Chamath Palihapitiya has also played a role in shaping the narrative. Palihapitiya reassured Agarwal of the opposition research being conducted against him, indicating that his candidacy was starting to concern Khanna.
As the race intensifies, both candidates are expected to face scrutiny over their past actions and statements. The outcome of the CA-17 race remains uncertain, with each contender vying for support in a highly competitive political landscape.