Lefty lawmaker accuses reporter of being racist after asking if her Louis Vuitton was ‘fake’

A reporter in Sacramento’s political press corps recently got a firsthand lesson on how asking a single question can draw accusations of racism.

Tina McKinnor, a state assemblymember from Los Angeles, called out a CalMatters reporter for racism on social media after her chief of staff received a question regarding the authenticity of a Louis Vuitton handbag McKinnor carried at an event.

“While Rome burns and American democracy is hanging on by a thread, I have to deal with racist bullshit like this from CalMatters.org,” McKinnor wrote, adding a screenshot of the email from reporter Stella Yu, which was apparently sent at the suggestion of her editor.

A report by eurweb.com said the reporter’s question was connected to a CalMatters report on legislators attending events funded and hosted by special interests. McKinnor reportedly attended the California Tribal Business Alliance’s 21st Annual Back to Session Bash, which is funded by gaming interests.

The Post caught up with McKinnor on Tuesday afternoon as she was discussing the story with people a block from the Capitol. At one point, two women jokingly ran up to ask McKinnor if the bag she was holding — a different Louis Vuitton bag than the one in question — was real.

“My reaction was anger, because it felt like, what are they asking? A black woman doesn’t deserve to have nice things?” McKinnor told The Post. “Not that a Black woman worked hard, or she’s 61 years old and worked hard to be successful. Why are we talking about this shit? We have all of these big problems happening in the world.”

Prior to being elected in 2022, McKinnor served as civic engagement director for the non-profit LAVoice, according to her state Assembly bio. She previously served as the operational director for the California Democratic Party and as the chief of staff to several Members of the State Assembly.

McKinnor noted that the original concept for the CalMatter report was to investigate whether legislators could be influenced by receptions that provide free food and drinks.

“I can’t be influenced by a damn drink,” McKinnor said. “How awful.”

The initial report on the dust-up noted that California Black Media asked CalMatters about the editorial decision in asking the question “given the racial and gendered history of questioning Black women’s legitimacy and status.”

CalMatters CEO Neil Chase reportedly told California Black Media that he would discuss the issue with his team, he had reached out to McKinnor personally, and CalMatters was reviewing its standards.

Chase did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.