Ethics Commission continues Taylor hearing after staff says respondent failed to comply with subpoenas

The San Francisco Ethics Commission on Dec. 8 continued a scheduled hearing on the merits in the matter of Paul Allen Taylor to a future date, saying enforcement staff and commissioners need more time to review filings and to allow a witness to appear in person.

An enforcement representative told the commission that staff repeatedly served document requests and subpoenas that the respondent did not comply with, and that the respondent’s filings did not follow prehearing orders. "We served probable cause. He did not respond to that," the enforcement representative said, arguing staff had been unable to secure responsive materials and that the respondent advanced arguments described by staff as a "sovereign citizen" theory that courts have rejected.

During a public-comment period tied to the item, caller Ellen (identifying herself as 2019 mayoral candidate Ellen Li Zhao) urged the commission to end the investigation into an associate and warned of litigation if the probe continued: "If you continue to push, the lawsuit will be 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 against the ethics commission," she told the panel. The commission did not act on that request; Chair Lee announced the matter would be continued and that enforcement staff would re-notify the respondent "pursuant to this Commission's enforcement regulations."

Enforcement staff told the commission a hearing could proceed today but that a continuance would allow parties and witnesses to present with better connections and give the commission time to analyze additional submissions; staff reminded the commission that, after a hearing, it has 45 days to consider evidence. The commission formally continued the item; no final merits ruling was made at the meeting.

Why it matters: continuances can lengthen enforcement timelines and affect respondents’ rights to timely adjudication and appeal. Enforcement staff’s contention that subpoenas and document requests went unanswered is central to the panel’s ability to receive and evaluate evidence.

Next steps: the commission will set a new hearing date for the Taylor matter and enforcement staff will re-notify the respondent under the commission’s enforcement regulations.