California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a formal civil rights complaint against Turkish-American Dr. Mehmet Oz, seeking a federal investigation and accusing the CMS Administrator of making baseless and racially charged allegations against Armenian Americans in Los Angeles that caused real-world harm, including a reported 30% drop in business at an Armenian-owned bakery. The complaint, submitted on January 29 to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, alleges that Oz’s public statements violated federal civil rights protections by targeting Armenian identity and language as indicators of criminal activity, reports Zartonk Media.
The civil rights complaint was filed by the Office of the Governor of California with the Centralized Case Management Operations division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees enforcement of federal civil rights laws in programs receiving federal funding.
According to the filing, on January 27, Dr. Mehmet Oz, in his capacity as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, posted a video to an official CMS social media account in which he made false and discriminatory claims targeting the Armenian community in Los Angeles. The complaint states that Oz pointed to Armenian-language public signage, referring to it as “Russian Armenian” lettering and language, and suggested it was an indicator of affiliation with organized crime, including the Mafia.
In the video, Oz also claimed that roughly $3.5 billion in fraud had taken place in hospice and home care in the area. He said a four-block stretch of Van Nuys contained 42 hospices and described Los Angeles as “one of the epicenters for fraud, waste and abuse.” The New York Times reported that the video is part of a broader Trump administration initiative that has alleged fraud in social services in Democratic-led states, including Minnesota, New York, Illinois, and California. Business owners whose storefronts appeared in the footage have denied involvement in fraud.
The Governor’s Office argues that such statements, particularly when made by the top official overseeing federal healthcare programs, reflect discriminatory animus and risk infecting fraud investigations with bias. The filing warns that these remarks could chill participation in federal healthcare programs by targeted communities and undermine trust in fair enforcement.
Gev Iskajyan, Advocacy Director at the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), said “Armenian Americans didn’t just arrive in California, we helped build it. From turning the state into a global agricultural powerhouse to building schools, churches, and strong civic institutions. We are organized, engaged, and won’t be intimidated or marginalized. We’re ready to utilize all avenues to combat hate and defend our community”
The New York Times also noted that hospice fraud investigations and prosecutions in California have been underway for years, pointing to a 2020 Los Angeles Times investigation that documented providers billing Medicare for hospice care for patients who were not dying.
The complaint further notes that Oz’s statements have already caused tangible harm. The Armenian-owned bakery featured in the video reported a 30% drop in sales following the video’s release, demonstrating what the filing describes as the real-world consequences of racially charged accusations made by a senior federal official.
On behalf of the Armenian community in California, the Governor’s Office is seeking a federal investigation and corrective action under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.
The filing was submitted by David Sapp, Legal Affairs Secretary in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, and formally requests that HHS determine whether Dr. Oz’s conduct violated federal civil rights protections.
Later the same day, Governor Newsom publicly confirmed the action in a post on X, writing: “My office is filing a civil rights complaint seeking an investigation into Dr. Oz’s baseless and racist allegations against Armenian Americans in California.”
The Governor’s Press Office followed with a separate post, stating: “BREAKING: @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom just called for a civil rights investigation into Dr. Oz for unfairly and unjustly targeting the Armenian community in Los Angeles, making unfounded allegations of illegal activity solely for political purposes.”
