By City News Service
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The California Latino Legislative Caucus issued a statement on Wednesday saying it was willing to assist in the ongoing federal probe of Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello.
Agents from the FBI's Los Angeles field office served search warrants Tuesday at Calderon's Sacramento office, but what prompted the investigation and what they were looking for remains unclear.
The California Latino Legislative Caucus' statement said that, contrary to some media reports, its offices were not searched.
"The nature of the warrants is under seal, and thus far no information on the affidavit in support of the warrants has been disclosed,'' according to the caucus statement. "In any event, the Latino Legislative Caucus stands ready to assist the Justice Department in whatever way it can to bring this matter to a speedy resolution.''
A call to Calderon's office was not immediately returned.
The senator's attorney, Mark Geragos, said Tuesday there was no justification for the probe.
"The only one so far who has done anything improper is the government," Geragos told the Los Angeles Times. "The government is out of control and we
are going to take the appropriate action to hold them accountable. They should be ashamed of themselves."
Geragos said he would go to court to ask that anything taken from Calderon's office at the Capitol be returned.
No arrests had been made, nor charges filed, as of this afternoon.
"Affidavits in support of the warrants have been sealed by the court and so we are unable to comment on nature, scope or target of investigation, which is ongoing, other than to say agents were seeking evidence based on allegations of criminal activity,'' FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said in an email to City News Service.
Calderon was elected to the senate in 2006. His district includes Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Montebello and Whittier, along with other cities.
Born and raised in Montebello, Calderon worked in the manufacturing industry and as a mortgage banker and real estate agent before he was elected.
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