The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office is investigating whether YouTube pranksters impersonated Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) agents and committed a crime by entering City Hall and demanding access to employee computers.
Key Takeaways:
- Three men wearing MAGA hats and DOGE shirts entered San Francisco City Hall on Feb. 14.
- They demanded access to government computers, claiming to be auditing wasteful spending.
- City employees refused, and the men left before sheriff’s deputies arrived.
- A YouTube video later exposed the incident as a prank by YouTuber Danny Mullen.
- Authorities are now determining if any criminal charges will be filed.
The stunt has sparked concerns about security, impersonation, and harassment of public employees.
What Happened at San Francisco City Hall?
According to the Sheriff’s Office:
- Three men, dressed in DOGE-branded clothing and MAGA hats, entered multiple city offices.
- They demanded access to computers and digital files, claiming to be part of a federal investigation into fraud.
- City employees denied their requests and alerted security.
- The men left the building before deputies arrived.
At the time, the Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation, reviewing surveillance footage but struggled to identify the perpetrators.
That changed when a YouTube video surfaced exposing the prank.
YouTubers Admit to Fake DOGE Raid in Online Video
On Monday, YouTubers Danny Mullen and Leandro Dottavio posted a video titled:
“Fake DOGE Raids in San Francisco (Liberal Meltdown).”
The video shows the pranksters harassing city employees, making exaggerated demands, and mocking government programs.
Mullen to a city worker:
“I’m going to have to put a thumb drive into your computer to see what you’ve been up to.”
To another employee:
“We need access to your computers. We want to audit your systems.”
Some of the remarks were meant to be comedic, but many were offensive:
Mullen sarcastically asked a City Hall worker:
“What are you working on today? Sending tampons to dolphins in Timbuktu? Are you sending condoms to Gaza?”
While some employees ignored the prank, others asked them to leave.
One exasperated worker said:
“This is seriously what you want to spend your time doing right now? Can you all please just leave?”
After the video surfaced, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed Mullen and his team were the suspects in the investigation.
Legal Consequences: Could the Pranksters Face Charges?
According to California state law, it is a misdemeanor to:
- Intentionally disrupt public employees while they are performing their duties.
- Obstruct, intimidate, or refuse to leave a government office when asked.
The Sheriff’s Office is now determining if Mullen and his team violated this law.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Tara Moriarty stated:
“The behavior of Mullen and his team was harassing and went beyond courteous interactions.”
If charged and convicted, the pranksters could face fines or even jail time.
The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office has not yet commented on whether it will press charges.
Who Is Danny Mullen?
Danny Mullen is a YouTuber with nearly 850,000 subscribers, known for:
- Prank videos and controversial stunts.
- Political provocations, often targeting liberals and Democrats.
- A previous stunt at Kamala Harris’ campaign office, where he attempted to “convert Democrats to vote for Trump.”
Mullen did not respond to requests for comment.
Security Concerns: How Did Impersonators Get In?
While the prank may seem harmless to some, it raises serious security concerns:
What if real criminals had used the same tactic?
- Could someone impersonate federal agents to steal government data?
- Did City Hall security fail to properly verify their credentials before allowing access?
- Are other government offices vulnerable to similar breaches?
A City Hall official, speaking anonymously, said:
“It’s fortunate these guys were just YouTubers. But what if they weren’t?”
