San Jose’s new congressman Sam Liccardo tried to kill story to protect state speaker

IN AN ANXIOUS 30-second voicemail, Sam Liccardo urged a friend to kill a critical article related to California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas — warning it would “blow up in a really bad way” for himself and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.

The voicemail from the former San Jose mayor and congressman-elect — left three days before Election Day — was for Jonathan Padilla, Liccardo’s former campaign staffer and longtime ally. Padilla requested a highly-controversial recount in Silicon Valley’s high-profile Congressional District 16 race that knocked one of Liccardo’s opponents off the ballot and handed him a win.