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California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is facing scrutiny after new federal filings revealed his own political operation spent more than $1.5 million purchasing copies of his memoir, accounting for the majority of its total sales.<\/span><\/p>\n According to disclosures released Wednesday, Newsom\u2019s PAC, the Campaign for Democracy, paid $1,561,875 to a book distributor to buy and distribute roughly 67,000 copies of his book, \u201cYoung Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery.\u201d Those copies were then offered to donors in exchange for contributions of any amount.<\/span><\/p>\n The strategy proved effective in driving engagement. Tens of thousands of supporters responded to the pitch, with the PAC ultimately distributing books that made up roughly two-thirds of the memoir\u2019s total print sales, which stand at just over 97,000 copies.<\/span><\/p>\n The arrangement raises questions about how Newsom\u2019s book achieved its early commercial success. His team had previously touted strong sales and highlighted the memoir\u2019s appearance on best-seller lists, including USA Today and New York Times <\/span>lists<\/span><\/a>. In a March press release, the Newsom team <\/span>wrote<\/span><\/a>, \u201c<\/span>With more than 91,000 copies sold through organic, in-person and online, non-bulk purchases in the United States, the memoir surged on bestseller lists within hours of its release and has drawn readers from across the country eager to learn more about Newsom\u2019s upbringing, early career, and the experiences that shaped his approach to leadership.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n