CALIFORNIA – Senator Ron Calderon has taken a leave of absence in the midst of fraud and corruption charges that he is currently facing.  

 

On March 2, Senator Ron Calderon announced his intentions in a public statement to take a leave in light of the corruption allegations that were made against him.

 

“I will take this time to focus on fighting these charges,” said Calderon.  “I do not want to distract from the important work of the Senate and my colleagues on serious issues affecting my constituents and the people of California.”

 

Calderon was indicted on February 21 on multiple counts of corruption involving bribes from Michael Drobot, former President of the now closed Pacific Hospital of Long Beach, and solicitation of bribes from undercover FBI agents who posed as film executives. The allegations against him include honest services fraud, mail fraud and money laundering. His brother, Tom Calderon, was also indicted.

 

Reuters reported that Calderon would be receiving his regular full salary, but he would not be receiving the $163 per-diem allowance.

 

The senator’s decision marks the second time, an official left office under similar circumstances. Senator Roderick Wright of Inglewood took a leave of absence on February 25 after being convicted on charges of fraud and perjury relating to a failure to disclose the fact that he did not live in the district he represented.