The state Fair Political Practices Commission, which enforces California’s campaign finance laws, has decided not to open an investigation of Sen. Kevin de León in connection with a $25,000 donation to a nonprofit advocacy group headed by the brother of Sen. Ron Calderon, a figure targeted in an FBI undercover investigation.
California’s TV and film tax incentive appears as popular as ever, despite a rash of negative news coverage of an FBI undercover sting of a state senator in which an industry tax break figured as a lure. “The FBI could have picked any topic from any industry to mount a sting,” Assemblymember Raul Bocanegra, D-Los Angeles, said recently at the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s 2nd Annual State of the Industry Conference.(Photo: Stan Rudich)
State Sen. Ron Calderon, whose Capitol offices were raided as part of an FBI undercover sting, says federal authorities illegally leaked information and pressured him to wear a hidden microphone in a purported corruption probe of Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg (above) and a colleague. Calderon said he refused, prompting retaliation from federal agents. On Thursday, a judge ordered federal authorities to respond to Calderon’s allegations. (Photo: Rich Pedroncelli/AP)