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Los Angeles senator won’t face investigation

Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), shown at a news conference in November with Sen. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), will not be investigated by a state ethics agency, which has been probing a controversial political donation.
(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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SACRAMENTO — California’s ethics watchdog will not investigate Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) after finding no evidence that he played a role in a controversial $25,000 political donation.

The Fair Political Practices Commission notified the senator of its decision in a letter Monday.

The commission’s review began after the leaking of a FBI affidavit involving Sen. Ron Calderon (D-Montebello), who is facing a bribery investigation but has not been charged.

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The document included allegations that De Leon tried to resolve a dispute over who would lead the California Latino Legislative Caucus by directing a $25,000 donation to a nonprofit tied to Calderon’s brother.

If De Leon solicited the money, his role would have needed to be disclosed under state law.

In response, a lawyer for De Leon said the senator “did not request the contribution, did not recommend the contribution, and was not part of any vote or decision to make the contribution.”

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Gary Winuk, chief of enforcement for the Fair Political Practices Commission, said officials would continue probing whether any other elected officials directed the $25,000 donation.

ALSO:

Ethics watchdog advises De Leon of possible probe

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Sen. Kevin De Leon denies role in contribution to Calderon group

Tom Calderon nonprofit received $25,000 from Latino caucus panel

Twitter: @chrismegerian

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