On Friday, the US Senate is reportedly expected to consider suspending Democratic Senators Leland Yee, Roderick Wright and Ronald Calderon from their offices without remuneration. The Los Angeles Times said that the Senate is mulling to vote over the move as the three politicians face federal charges.
The move to suspend the politicians is said to have been motivated by the recent arrest of Yee. Yee was subsequently charged with accepting campaign funds in exchange for political favors and conspiracy to traffic in firearms without a license. After his arrest on Wednesday, Yee has posted a $500,000 bail at the San Francisco Federal Building in San Francisco.
The LA Times said that the 65 year-old Chinese-American has so far ignored calls for him to resign from his position from conspiracy to traffic in firearms without a license. Steinberg has issued a warning to Yee following his arrest on Wednesday that the politician could face a suspension vote if Yee will not resign. Moreover, he called out the alleged activities of Yee appalling and that it has cast a shadow over the Legislature.
The Constitution states that the Senate does not have the power to withhold pay from a lawmaker who has been suspended, said the LA times. As such, Yee , Wright and Calderon could still draw from their annual salaries of $95,291 each.
Calderon and Wright, on the other hand, had already filed for voluntary leaves of absences following the crimes charged against them and had individually expressed their intentions to fight back. Steinberg has been quoted as saying that all three nonetheless, will be treated equally with regard to suspending them.
On the other hand, Steinberg's spokesman Rhys Williams said the Senate could draft a constitutional amendment which would allow the chamber to withhold suspended lawmakers' pay and put them before a public vote.
