Calderon focusing more on district since losing committees, he says

By Patrick McGreevy

Jan. 6, 2014 4:14 PM PT

SACRAMENTO -- Stripped of all his committee assignments, state Sen. Ronald S. Calderon (D-Montebello) said Monday he will focus more attention on issues in his Los Angeles County district while awaiting the end of an FBI investigation into bribery allegations.

“It will give me an opportunity to work with the district, telling people what services are available from the state,” Calderon told reporters after the Senate held its first meeting of the year.

FBI agents raided Calderon’s Capitol office in June as part of an investigation that an FBI affidavit says is focused on whether Calderon took $88,000 in bribes in exchange for action on bills.

“I have done nothing wrong. That will come out in the wash,” Calderon told reporters in a hallway outside the Senate Chambers on Monday.

Asked if the pending investigation has made things awkward at work, Calderon said, “It does a little bit. Unfortunately, I’m getting used to it. It’s an everyday occurrence. It makes it difficult to do my work, but I’m managing. I have a duty, I have an obligation and a right to serve the people who elected me to this seat, and that’s what I am doing.”

In addition to removing Calderon from all of his committee assignments in November, the legislative leadership reassigned Calderon’s desk Monday so that he is off in a corner alone. “I don’t have a problem sitting there,” Calderon said. “As long as I have a microphone and I can present my bills and vote, that’s all I need.”

Asked about the desk reassignment, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) told reporters: “I’m doing what I think is in the best interest of the house.”

Steinberg said his goal is to prevent the ongoing FBI probe from distracting lawmakers from the work at hand.

“I know there has been a lot of distraction over the course of the fall, but we plan to begin getting together as a caucus and as a house and we’re going to define a very ambitious and specific agenda, and I look forward to accomplishing a lot,” Steinberg said.

ALSO:

Los Angeles senator won’t face investigation

Ethics watchdog advises De Leon of possible probe

Tom Calderon nonprofit received $25,000 from Latino caucus panel

[email protected]