Senate leader asked to be trial witness
SACRAMENTO — Federal prosecutors have asked state Senate leader Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) to appear as a witness in the corruption trial of former Democratic state Sen. Ronald Calderon, his office confirmed late Friday.
Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced) has also been subpoenaed as a witness, an aide said. Gray was Calderon’s legislative director from 2008 to 2011, advising him on bills.
De León spokeswoman Claire Conlon did not respond to questions about whether the Senate leader received a subpoena to testify at the Aug. 11 trial, as about 10 other state officials have, or whether he has any information about wrongdoing by Calderon.
“Sen. De León has been asked to assist the prosecution as a witness in the Calderon trial and, as has been the case from the very beginning of this process, he will readily and fully participate,” Conlon said in an emailed statement. “Since the senator’s been cooperating in this matter for nearly two years, he expected to be called, and he’s prepared to serve as needed.”
De León testified before a federal grand jury, which in February 2014 indicted Calderon on 24 felony counts.
The charges include accepting $88,000 in bribes in exchange for official actions involving bills affecting the film industry and workers’ compensation benefits.
Calderon and his brother, former Assemblyman Tom Calderon, who was charged with money laundering, have both pleaded not guilty.