The incident happened pre-Bruen when California county sheriffs had a huge amount of latitude to decide who got permits. In some counties that meant nearly ever

The incident happened pre-Bruen when California county sheriffs had a huge amount of latitude to decide who got permits. In some counties that meant nearly everyone without a criminal record got one, but on the flip side in some counties the only sure way to get a CCW was to be politically connected (either a colleague of the sheriff or donor to their reelection campaign). So if a given sheriff's default stance is "no one gets a CCW" I can see how it's more of a bribe than extortion to get one via quid pro quo