USC said it turned the matter over to the feds because the School forwarded the donation to the United Ways of California, directing it be used for an African American voter research project run by his son, former California Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas.
At face value, the previous weeks headlines seemed disturbing: University of Southern California had referred a donation, made to the School of Social Work by LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, to federal officials for investigation.
Prior to former Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas’ resignation in December 2017, he spent the past four years serving the South Los Angeles community by taking on the state’s homelessness crisis, mental health and environmental issues. Although he is no longer serving in the assembly, Ridley-Thomas continues to be a voice and face of the community. This time however, he is taking his voice to the polls by encouraging California residents to register to vote!