Under Fire, Leland Yee Ends Run for Calif. Secretary of State
On Thursday - one day after State Sen. Leland Yee was arrested on charges of corruption and arms dealing - he ended his bid to become California's next secretary of state.
Yee, who represents district eight in San Francisco, sent a letter to Secretary of State Debra Bowen formally removing himself from the race, according to his attorney Paul DeMeester.
Prominent Democratic politicians, including Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, have publicly called for Yee to resign.
Yee is the third Democratic state senator to be linked to criminal conduct. In January, State Sen. Roderick Wright was convicted of perjury and voter fraud. State Sen. Ron Calderon faces federal corruption charges stemming from allegations he received more than $100,000 in bribes in exchange for legislative support.
