Newsom Files Civil Rights Complaint Against Trump Official Dr. Oz

Alleges Oz made "baseless and racist allegations" against Armenian Americans in California

Jan. 30, 2026 at 2:15pm

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Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a civil rights complaint against Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), after Oz accused Armenian crime groups of being responsible for health care fraud in Los Angeles. Newsom's office is seeking an investigation into Oz's "baseless and racist allegations against Armenian Americans."

Why it matters

The complaint highlights the ongoing tensions between Newsom and the Trump Administration, with Newsom accusing Oz of "attacking a small business for pure politics." It also raises concerns about the potential for public officials to make unfounded claims that could negatively impact minority communities.

The details

In a video posted on January 27, Oz claimed that there is $3.5 billion in fraud taking place in Los Angeles hospice and home care, which he alleged is "run, quite a bit of it, by the Russian Armenian mafia." Oz made these claims while touring the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles, an area with a significant Armenian population. Newsom condemned Oz's remarks, saying he was "attacking a small business for pure politics." The owner of an Armenian bakery featured in Oz's video reported a 30% drop in customer traffic after the video's release.

  • On January 27, 2026, Dr. Oz posted a video making allegations about Armenian crime groups and health care fraud in Los Angeles.
  • On January 30, 2026, Governor Newsom filed a civil rights complaint against Dr. Oz seeking an investigation into his "baseless and racist allegations."
  • In December 2025, a federal judge ordered the Trump Administration to immediately end its deployment of California National Guard troops in Los Angeles.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The Democratic Governor of California who filed the civil rights complaint against Dr. Oz.

Dr. Mehmet Oz

The Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) under the Trump Administration, who made allegations about Armenian crime groups and health care fraud in Los Angeles.

Movses Bislamyan

The operator of an Armenian bakery featured in Dr. Oz's video, who reported a 30% drop in customer traffic after the video's release.

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What they’re saying

“Recording my signs, my location, and talking about some kind of fraud going on here. We have nothing to do with it. It has nothing to do whatsoever with the store.”

— Movses Bislamyan, Bakery operator (ABC7 News)

“My office is filing a civil rights complaint seeking an investigation into Dr. Oz's baseless and racist allegations against Armenian Americans in California.”

— Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

What’s next

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will investigate the civil rights complaint filed by Governor Newsom against Dr. Oz.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between California's Democratic leadership and the Trump Administration, as well as the potential for public officials to make unfounded claims that could negatively impact minority communities. It underscores the importance of addressing allegations of racism and discrimination in the administration of critical federal health care programs.