Sen. Ron Calderon stripped of committee assignments

SACRAMENTO -- Sen. Ronald S. Calderon, who is under investigation by the FBI for alleged bribe-taking, on Tuesday was temporarily stripped of all of his legislative committee assignments pending the outcome of the probe.

The Senate Rules Committee voted 4 to 0 to suspend Calderon’s assignments to six panels, including his powerful chairmanship of the Senate Insurance Committee.

The action was taken against the Democratic lawmaker from Montebello on the recommendation of Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), who chairs the rules committee.

He said the action does not reflect any judgement on guilt or innocence.

“The allegations, however, are serious enough to potentially cloud any interaction the senator might have with colleagues, advocates and the public on issues within a committee’s jurisdiction,” Steinberg said.

Steinberg also said the Senate Ethics Committee is poised to launch its own investigation of Calderon’s conduct as alleged in an FBI affidavit but lawmakers will hold off doing interviews and collecting evidence at the request of the U.S. attorney’s office.

Private attorney William Portanova spoke to federal prosecutors on behalf of the Senate and was told they are at a “sensitive time” in their criminal investigation.

“Any evidence gathering or witness interviews could potentially hinder the investigation at this stage,” Portanova told the rules panel.

Calderon has not been charged with any crime.

Calderon allegedly accepted $60,000 in bribes from an undercover FBI agent posing as a movie executive and $28,000 more from a medical company owner in exchange for efforts to affect legislation on tax credits for the film industry and on workers’ compensation claims, according to the FBI affidavit, which was posted recently on Al Jazeera America’s website.

On Tuesday, Calderon was also suspended from other standing committees, including Environmental Quality, Banking and Financial Institutions, Governmental Organization and the Select Committee on Procurement.

Calderon was also removed Tuesday from his chairmanship of the Senate select committees on Film and Television Industries, which the Rules Committee disbanded because it has not met since it was created.

Calderon issued a statement in which he he maintained his innocence.

“I am profoundly disappointed by the Senate Rules Committee decision to strip me of my committee assignments,” Calderon said.

“While I am defending myself against false allegations and illegal acts committed by a federal agency my commitment and resolve to continue providing the best legislative representation and the best services to my constituents remain firm,” he added. “Removing me from my committee assignments sends a risky and unsuitable message regarding our fundamental constitutional rights and the presumption of innocence.”

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patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com