Newsom's office called our diaper contract reporting "demonstrably false." State records show what happened

California Governor Gavin Newsom's office has pushed back against a CBS News California investigation into the state's no-bid diaper contract with Baby2Baby. Six hours after the investigation's publication, the governor's office released records and emailed CBS News, requesting corrections and labeling parts of the reporting "demonstrably false."

The core of the dispute lies in the governor's claim that the contract, part of the "Golden State Start" initiative, underwent a "competitive bidding process." However, state records, including the contract database, code the deal as "NON-COMPETITIVELY BID." Furthermore, the document governing the process explicitly states it was "Not a Solicitation" and that pricing "will not be considered a proposal/bid."

CBS News California, in its follow-up reporting, meticulously cross-referenced the governor's office's claims with official documents. These included the governor's budget documents, legislative texts and analyses, and reports from the Legislative Analyst's Office. Where the records supported additional details, the news outlet updated its story. However, where the governor's office's assertions did not align with the documented evidence, CBS News presented its findings, detailing its review process.

The governor's office did not respond to CBS News's request for comment before the initial story was published, only doing so afterward. This exchange highlights ongoing tensions between the administration and investigative journalists scrutinizing state contracts and transparency.