Gay former Santa Clara city councilmember Anthony Becker was sentenced to 40 days in jail Friday following his conviction on perjury. He was found guilty last December 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.
Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Javier Alcala sentenced Becker to 40 days in jail, with two years on probation. The sentence makes him eligible for a work program, San Jose Inside reported.
According to a news release from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office, in December 2024, a jury convicted Becker 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 and public affairs officer and lobbyist. The leak of the confidential document came several days before it was scheduled to be published, the release stated.
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 not to disclose the draft report.
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said his office is “satisfied” with the outcome of the case.
“Public officials are entrusted by voters to honestly advocate for the people they serve,” Rosen stated. “Mr. 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.”
Becker lost his reelection bid last November. He resigned from the City Council December 6, a day after he was convicted.
In his letter, Becker noted his serving as a councilmember and a city planning commissioner for six years "was the greatest honor, joy and privilege" and would miss serving "the people of this wonderful city."
"It was always a dream of mine to be a part of the government process, creating our city's policies, enhancing development, and shaping the City's direction. I'm deeply grateful for the experience, knowledge gained, and relationships built with the exceptional city staff and residents over the past ten years," wrote Becker.
In the letter, Becker took no responsibility for the leaked report or mentioned it, the court trial, or his guilty verdict.
On October 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 October 10, 2022. On October 7, news reports revealed details of the grand jury’s report with at least one outlet, San Jose Spotlight, publishing a complete copy of the draft report. Silicon Valley Voice also wrote about the report before it was released.
The same civil grand jury that issued the report then investigated the source of the leak, the release stated. 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 October 10. Becker also admitted to a fellow council member that he leaked the report to a local media outlet.
The release stated that the 49ers bankrolled Becker’s political career. 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.
His conviction prevents him from ever again holding elected office in California.
Updated, 45/8/25: This article has been updated to state that Mr. Becker is eligible for a work program in lieu of jail time.
