June 4, 2013, 6:37 p.m.

 

SACRAMENTO -- FBI agents raided the office of state Sen. Ron Calderon (D-Montebello) and at least one other location in the state Capitol on Tuesday to gather evidence for an investigation, law enforcement officials said.


“FBI agents are executing a search warrant at the Capitol building,” said Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman.

She said all information related to the nature of the search was sealed and the agency could not discuss it. “The affidavit in support is under seal and we are prohibited from commenting,” she said.

Sources with knowledge of the probe said the search of Calderon's office is part of a wider public corruption investigation in Los Angeles County.

Eimiller said the agency is “taking evidence respective to an ongoing investigation.”

Senate Sgt. at Arms Tony Beard said FBI agents were in Calderon's office all afternoon, after producing a sealed warrant. Capitol janitors were instructed to stay out as the search continued.

Beard said the last major search of a senator's office was 30 years ago.

Lauren Horwood, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Sacramento, said the investigation comes out of the federal agency’s central California district, which includes Los Angeles.

Staff for Sen. Calderon declined to comment and would not allow a reporter who knocked on the senator's office door Tuesday evening to enter.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/political/la-me-pc-fbi-raids-cald...