California's Democratic Attorney General, Rob Bonta, has been accused by his Republican gubernatorial rival, Michael Gates, and the California GOP of granting political favours to Netflix, amid a legal dispute involving Paramount. The claims centre on donations reportedly totalling around $1 million (£790,000) linked to Netflix, raising questions about whether Bonta's office has acted impartially in matters affecting the streaming giant. The allegations feed into a wider political battle in California, where Bonta faces a competitive race for governor.

Critics are calling for a formal investigation into whether the donor trail influenced Bonta's handling of legal matters connected to the Paramount case, which reportedly touches on the broader competition between major media companies, including Netflix, over control of entertainment assets such as Warner Bros. Bonta's office has not been reported as responding in detail to the claims within the available material, and further specifics of the alleged donations and their connection to his official conduct remain to be substantiated.