Calderon vows to continue work

DOWNEY - Days after the FBI raided his Sacramento offices, state Sen. Ron Calderon spoke out on Monday, determined to continue his legislative work despite the ongoing investigation. "My family and I have gone through a lot the last several days," Calderon said outside the Senate chambers. "It's been very stressful and hard on all of us. We're all anxious to put this behind us and carry on a normal life."

Calderon did not address the investigation directly or answer any questions, but vowed not to let last week's raid hinder his agenda.

"I have a lot of my own questions that aren't answered yet," Calderon said before referring the press to his attorney, Mark Geragos.

"My intention at this point is to do my job that I was elected to do, attend my hearings, get my bills passed out of committee to the floor, and do the work of the state," he said.

Not revealing the nature of the search, FBI agents issued search warrants last Tuesday before raiding Calderon's office to gather evidence for their investigation.

Last Friday, state Sen. Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles) announced he had been subpoenaed to testify to a federal grand jury as a witness, leading some officials to believe the investigation could revolve around the political and business dealings of the Calderon family.

Born and raised in the city of Montebello, Calderon is part of a growing political dynasty in state politics.

Elected to his first Senate term in November 2006, Calderon followed in the footsteps of his oldest brother Charles Calderon, who was elected to the State Senate in 1990 and was termed out in 1998.

His second brother Thomas Calderon served in the State Assembly from 1998 to 2002 and the senator's nephew, Ian Calderon (D-Whittier), was elected to the State Assembly last November.

Sen. Calderon, who represents more than 20 cities including Bell, La Mirada, Montebello, Norwalk, Downey, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, and Cerritos, chairs the influential Senate Insurance Committee, the Select Committee on Film and Television Industries, International Business and Trade, and Economic Development Committee.

********** Published: June 13, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 09