The appointment reflects a key component of the alleged conspiracy: to fill major city staff roles with people who could favor Thao’s campaign backers for heavy public funding.

Thao has maintained her innocence and denied she is at the center of a public corruption scandal. She has largely laid low since being recalled in November.

Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, her boyfriend and a father-son team who run the local recycling company were indicted Friday on federal bribery and conspiracy charges for an alleged pay-to-play scheme.