State Senator Gets Subpoena Days After FBI Probe On Sen. Ron Calderon
SACRAMENTO (AP) — One of the state Senate's top Democrats said Friday that he has been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury, days after another senator's Capitol offices were searched by the FBI.
Sen. Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, said he was served with the subpoena on Thursday, but it was not clear whether the development was related to the FBI raid earlier this week.
"I've communicated to the U.S. Attorney's office my willingness to cooperate fully," de Leon said in a statement. "The U.S. Attorney's office has asked that the details of their inquiry remain confidential. I intend to honor that request."
The subpoena came two days after the FBI raided two Sacramento offices assigned to Sen. Ron Calderon, a Democrat from Montebello. Subpoenas of other lawmakers, aides and lobbyists had been expected as part of the investigation into the business and political dealings of Calderon and his brothers.
De Leon's chief of staff, Dan Reeves, said in response to a question that "we've been advised he is not a target of this investigation."
Neither FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller nor Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Los Angeles, would comment. They also would not say whether more subpoenas are being issued, citing the secrecy of grand jury proceedings.
De Leon represents the 22nd Senate District in Los Angeles County. This year he became the first Latino to chair the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, and he is considered a leading candidate to replace Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, who is termed out of office after next year.
Rhys Williams, a spokesman for Senate Democrats, said he was unaware of any other senators being served. Spokesmen for Assembly Republicans and Democrats said they also did not know of any subpoenas to lawmakers or staff.
The Associated Press reported Thursday that the FBI began seeking information about Ron Calderon and his brother Tom, a former state assemblyman, as long ago as 2005.
The FBI has revealed few details on the investigation, which became public when agents searched Ron Calderon's two offices. The search warrants are sealed so it remains unclear what authorities were seeking.
Eimiller confirmed a report in The Sacramento Bee that the FBI served search warrants in April on a hospital and a pharmacy business that employed Tom Calderon as a consultant.
Tom Calderon's attorney, Shepard Kopp, said Thursday that the FBI attempted to contact his client this week, but said he could not provide details.
Ron Calderon's attorney, Mark Geragos, said Friday that there had been no developments regarding his client. However, he would not say if his client or anyone associated with his client had been subpoenaed or questioned as part of the investigation.
Both men have denied that their clients did anything wrong.
They are part of a Southern California political dynasty that also includes another brother, Charles. All three have served in the state Legislature, and Charles' son, Ian Calderon, was elected to the Assembly last year.
Ron Calderon is considered a moderate, business-friendly Democrat. He is termed out of the Senate next year and is considering running for state controller.
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