Biography:Leland Yee

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Short description: American criminal and former Democratic California State Senator
Leland Yee
Leland Yee.jpg
Member of the California State Senate
from the 8th district
In office
December 4, 2006 – March 28, 2014
Preceded byJackie Speier
Succeeded byTom Berryhill
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 12th district
In office
December 2, 2002 – November 30, 2006
Preceded byKevin Shelley
Succeeded byFiona Ma
Member of the
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
from the 4th district
In office
January 1997 – December 2, 2002
Preceded bydistrict created in 2000; prior terms were for city-wide seat
Succeeded byFiona Ma
Personal details
Born
Yu Yin Liang[1]

Toisan, Guangdong, China
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Maxine Yee
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley (BS)
San Francisco State University (MS)
University of Hawaii at Manoa (PhD)
Websitedist08.casen.govoffice.com
www.lelandyee.com
Script error: No such module "Infobox multi-lingual name".

Leland Yin Yee (Chinese: 余胤良; Jyutping: jyu4 jan6 loeng4; pinyin: Yú Yìnliáng) is an American former politician who served as a member of the California State Senate for District 8, which covered parts of San Francisco and the Peninsula. In 2015, Yee pleaded guilty to felony racketeering charges for money laundering, political corruption, arms trafficking, and bribery.

Prior to becoming state senator, Yee was a California State Assemblyman, Supervisor of San Francisco's Sunset District, and President of the San Francisco School Board. In 2004 Yee became the first Asian American to be appointed Speaker pro Tempore, making him the second highest ranking Democrat of the California State Assembly.

Yee was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on March 26, 2014 on charges related to public corruption and gun trafficking — specifically, buying automatic firearms and shoulder-launched missiles from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), an Islamist extremist group located in the southern Philippines and attempting to re-sell those weapons to an undercover FBI agent, as well as accepting a $10,000 bribe from an undercover agent in exchange for placing a call to the California Department of Public Health regarding a contract at the organization.[2]

In response to the gun running and other criminal charges against him, the California State Senate suspended Yee as a Senator on March 28, 2014.[3] On July 1, 2015, Yee pleaded guilty to a felony racketeering count in relation to money laundering, public corruption and bribery in a joint-prosecution alongside fellow organized crime figures based in San Francisco's Chinatown.[4] On February 24, 2016, Yee was sentenced to five years in federal prison,[5] and was released on June 26, 2020.[6]

Early life and education

Leland Yee immigrated to San Francisco, California from his birthplace of Taishan,[7] Guangdong, China, when he was three years old and later became a naturalized American citizen. His father served in the United States Army and the United States Merchant Marine.

Yee attended middle school in San Francisco, at what is now Martin Luther King, Jr., Academic Middle School.[citation needed] He received his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley and a master's degree at San Francisco State University before earning his PhD in child psychology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 1975.[8]

Early career

After obtaining his doctorate, Yee worked as a therapist in the Mental Health Department of San Francisco, the Oakland School District and with Asian American for Community Involvement, a non-profit that serves low-income people.[9]

San Francisco School Board

Yee as member of SF Board of Supervisors

Yee was elected to the San Francisco Board of Education in 1988 and served two four-year terms on the board including one as Board President. During his tenure, Yee called for audits of all schools in the San Francisco Unified School District and fought to establish performance standards for educators.[9]

1992

In 1992, Yee was arrested for alleged shoplifting a bottle of tanning oil from the KTA Superstore in Kona's Keauhou Shopping Village. The case was not prosecuted, as Yee disappeared before he could be prosecuted.[8][10]

San Francisco Board of Supervisors

Yee was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1996. Representing the city's fourth district, Yee was appointed to chair the Finance Committee, where he helped establish the "Rainy Day" budget reserve and introduced General Obligation Bond Accountability Act. He was re-elected to the board in 2000.[9]

1999

San Francisco Supervisor Leland Yee in 1999

In 1999, Yee was stopped twice by police on suspicion of soliciting prostitutes in San Francisco's Mission District.[11][12]

California Assembly

In November 2002, Yee was elected to the California State Assembly to represent the 12th district.

In his first year in the Legislature, he was appointed to the Speaker's leadership team as the assistant speaker pro tempore. In 2004, Yee became the first Asian Pacific American to be appointed speaker pro tempore in the California State Assembly and was elected president of the National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators.[13]

2003 – 2005

In his first term in the Legislature, Yee had 15 bills signed into law.[14] These bills include AB 1371 which strengthens informed consent requirements for mentally handicapped patients that take part in medical research.[15]

Yee had 11 bills chartered into law in 2004.[16] Noteworthy bills included AB 2412 which allows part-time community college faculty to access unemployment benefits[17] and AB 3042 which enhances sentences for child prostitution.[18]

Yee had 12 bills chartered into law in 2005.[19] Included in his bill package were AB 800 which ensures a patient's medical records include his/her spoken language,[20] AB 1179 which would have banned the sale of violent video games to children (which was later declared unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court.),[21] and AJR 14 which states that California officially opposes the weakening of the federal offshore oil drilling moratorium[22]

Following news of the "Hot Coffee mod" in Rockstar North's Grand Theft Auto, Yee claimed that the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) knew about it in advance and criticized them for not rating the game "adults only".[23] The controversy resulted from the Hot Coffee mod created by personal computer users of the game using hacking tools to create a modification to play a "minigame", or game-within-a-game, which was otherwise inaccessible to players.[24] In response, Rockstar removed the content used for the modification. That same year, Yee passed California Assembly Bills 1792 & 1793, a video game bill that criminalizes sale of video games rated M to children under 18 and require retailers to place M-rated games separate from other games intended for children. Yee's bills passed in part to mass media concentration on the speculative link between video game violence and real world violence, as well as several support of concerned parent groups. The bill was signed into law on October 7, 2005, and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) filed a lawsuit 10 days later. After the bill passed, it was ruled to be unconstitutional by Judge Ronald Whyte.[25] The adverse ruling required the state to pay $324,840 to the ESA in legal fees.[26] (This law was eventually argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2010 in Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association, in which the court struck down the law as unconstitutional.)

2006

Yee had 10 bills signed into law in 2006.[27] Notable bills included AB 1969, which increases renewable energy production in the state,[28] AB 2581, which aims to protect student free speech and prohibit school administrators from censoring school newspapers and broadcast journalism,[29] AB 409, which establishes tighter controls and higher health standards for nail salons,[30] and AB 1207, which adds sexual orientation to the list of protections in the Code of Fair Political Practices.[31]

California Senate

On June 6, 2006, Yee defeated his opponents Mike Nevin and Lou Papan to win the Democratic nomination for the California State Senate. In the final vote tally certified on June 27, 2006 by San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum,[32] Yee gathered 51.9 percent, Nevin received 35.4 percent and Papan took 12.7 percent of the vote. Since Jan 1, Nevin spent $887,562.80 of campaign contributions, Yee spent $673,372.59 and Papan ran a modest campaign, spending just $289,862.64. He was elected to the California State Senate in the November 7, 2006 election by a landslide of 77.5% of votes cast.[33] With San Francisco and San Mateo County having a high Democratic base Yee was elected on November 7, 2006.[33] Yee replaced Jackie Speier, who left office due to term limits.

Yee was suspended from the senate in 2014.[3] Yee formerly served on the following Senate committees:[34]

  • Appropriations
  • Business, Professions and Economic Development
  • Governmental Organization
  • Human Services
  • Labor and Industrial Relations
  • Select Committee on Biotechnology
  • Select Committee on California's Wine Industry
  • Select Committee on California's Horse Racing Industry
  • Select Committee on Integrity of Elections
  • Select Committee on International Business Trade

Yee formerly[3] chaired the following Senate committees:[34]

  • Select Committee on California's Public Record and Open Meeting Laws
  • Select Committee on Asian Pacific Islander Affairs
  • Select Committee on Bay Area Sustainable Development and Economic Progress

Support for gun control

Yee was a vocal advocate for gun control, both before and while engaged in gun running. During sentencing, Federal District Judge Charles Beyer called Yee's actions "vile" and the arms dealings particularly "hypocritical" given the politician's history of gun control.[35] In 2006 Yee was named to the Gun Violence Prevention Honor Roll by the Brady Campaign for his efforts that included co-authoring a first-in-the-nation bill to require new semiautomatic handguns be equipped with ballistics identification technology known as microstamping.[36] In May 2012, together with Kevin de León, Yee proposed legislation to ban any semi-automatic rifle that used a bullet button that makes the rifle a "fixed magazine rifle." SB 249 would ban conversion kits and rifles. According to his press release, "Absent this bill, California's assault weapon ban is significantly weakened. For the safety of the general public, we must close this loophole."[37] Yee is quoted as saying, "It is extremely important that individuals in the state of California do not own assault weapons. I mean that is just so crystal clear, there is no debate, no discussion."[38]

2007

Yee had 11 bills signed into law in 2007.[39] Included in these bills was SB 279, making it unlawful to park cars for sale, deemed a public nuisance and traffic hazard, along public roads,[40] SB 190, which brings more transparency to the compensation practices of administrators at the University of California and the California State University,[41] SB 523, which increases the quantity of child support payments collected in San Mateo County,[42] and SCR 52, which declares the legislature "finds that joint governance of the University of California Retirement Plan is necessary to ensure that significant pension plan decisions are based on full and accurate information, to prevent conflicts of interest from impacting the management and performance of the University of California Retirement Plan, and to ensure that the University of California Retirement Plan is financially sound and well managed in a fair and appropriate manner."[43]

On April 12, 2007, Yee criticized the United States Army's plan to spend $2 million in tax dollars to sponsor the Global Gaming League. Yee claims the military individuals on the site are "desensitized to real-life violence through the online violent video games."[44]

On August 29, 2007, Yee again criticized the ESRB, this time for not disclosing what content was removed from Manhunt 2 to re-rate the game from an AO rating for violence to the ESRB Mature rating.[45] Yee asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the change in rating. In response, ESRB president Patricia Vance stated the details for a product that has not yet been released will not be disclosed.[46]

2008

Yee had fourteen bills signed into law in 2008.[39] Among these bills, SB 697 prohibits balance billing of patients in the California's Healthy Families program,[47][48] SB 1217 allows public oversight of the state bar pilots commission,[49] SB 1356, which aims to protect victims of domestic violence from the threat of jail when they refrain from testifying against their abuser in court,[50] SB 1370, which protects teachers from the retaliatory action of school officials as a result of student speech,[51] SB 1696, which states that contracts between a government and a private entity should be subject to the same disclosure requirements as other public records,[52] and SB 1419, which creates a double-fine zone on 19th and Van Ness Avenues—an area with a historically high pedestrian collision rate.[53]

Yee and Assemblyman Ted Lieu of Los Angeles challenged the legality of the LPGA's English language policy, resulting in a revision of policy by the end of 2008.[54] Yee introduced SB 242, prohibiting businesses from denying services to customers that don't speak English (a modification of the Unruh Civil Rights Act).[55] in California .[56] The bill was vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on October 11, 2009.[citation needed]

On January 23, 2008 during a committee meeting, Yee announced his opposition to the health care plan sponsored by Governor Schwarzenegger and supported by a majority of Democrats in the California State House and Senate, while opposed by a majority of Republicans. Yee's opposition along with the opposition of Democratic Senator and Health Committee Chair Sheila Kuehl led the New York Times to predict that California's healthcare bill would be effectively killed.[57]

2009

Yee had 9 bills signed into law in 2009.[58] He wrote SB 340, which requires businesses to list all automatic renewal offer terms and obtain customer approval, SB 13, which provides $16.3 million for domestic violence shelters, SB 786, which preserves an individual's right to enforce open government laws, and SB 447, which reforms the criminal background check laws for people seeking employment at youth organizations.[58]

On July 22, 2009, Yee filed an amicus brief in support of Governor Schwarzenegger's appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the passing of a law that would criminalize the sale of "ultraviolent" video games to minors, claiming that unlike books, movies and CDs, video games "can contain up to 800 hours of footage with the most atrocious content often reserved for the highest levels and can be accessed only by advanced players after hours upon hours of progressive mastery.".[59] This action has been met with criticism from gamers that the Californian state senator is wasting resources on a law already judged unconstitutional at a time when the state is already facing economic problems[60]

2010

In 2010 Yee introduced SB 1451, a bill that ensures California students do not learn from a modified curriculum designed by Texas-based textbook publishers.[61] He wrote SB 399, a bill that would give a juvenile sentenced to life in prison without parole, the right to ask for a court review after ten years.[62] He also introduced SB 920, a bill allowing Californians to opt out of having phone books delivered to their homes. The Senate rejected the bill, however.[63]

The remainder of Yee's bill package focuses on consumer protection,[64] child safety,[65] government transparency,[64] and domestic violence prevention[66] None of his bills have been signed into law this year.[67] Yee was also the third largest taxpayer-funded gas card spender in the senate for 2010 costing $5,314.66. A spokesman said he commutes daily from the state Capitol to his district to hold daily and evening meetings to better serve his constituents.[68]

In April 2010, Yee filed a public records request to discover if any state funds were used by California State Stanislaus Foundation to hire and pay former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin $75,000 to speak at the school's 50th anniversary celebration on June 25.[69] The foundation refused to divulge any information about the fees paid to Palin.[70]

In response, Yee introduced SB 330, which would require groups to abide by California's Public Records Act.[70] On May 28, 2010, the Los Angeles Times reported that two California State sources disclosed that Sarah Palin would receive $75,000 for her speaking engagement. Officials would not confirm the amount of the disclosure.[71] In response to the disclosure, Yee said, "It's rather disappointing that Sarah Palin is asking for nearly $100,000 to speak at this anniversary event when we're looking at state increases in student fees, cancellations of classes and the fact that this money could be going to scholarships… She could do wonders for all of us ... by taking this money and donating it back to the foundation."[72] The fundraising gala raised a then record $200,000 profit for the Cal State Stanislaus Foundation.[73]

2011

California State Assemblyman Paul Fong had introduced Assembly Bill 376, a legislation intended to ban a method of harvesting shark fins, but the details of which also stipulates that any commercial or culinary use of any shark's fin become banned, in particular Shark's fin soup, which Assemblyman Fong describes as: "Anything that is unhealthy, that the culture is practicing, we should stop doing it. We used to bind women's feet and that was unhealthy for the woman".[74] In what may be a described as a cynical analogy with a long obsolete practice of foot binding is echoed by Hawaii's former first lady Vicky Cayetano who states that: "shark fin soup is about as cultural as bound feet",[75] however, Senator Leland Yee, while voicing his concern about the illegal shark finning trade, argued that the mentality behind AB376 constitutes "the wrong approach and an unfair attack on Asian culture and cuisine... rather than launch just another attack on Asian American culture, the proponents of the (blanket) ban on shark fin soup should work with us to strengthen conservation efforts".[76] Critics said the bill unfairly targeted the Chinese-American community because it only restricts the sale of shark fins, which are used almost exclusively in Chinese cuisine. The bill does not apply to other shark products like oil or meat. "I think what is most insidious about this particular bill is that it sends a very bad message, not only to us in California but to the rest of the world, that discrimination against Chinese-Americans is OK," Yee said.

On January 19, 2011, conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh mocked Chinese president Hu Jintao during his visit to the White House on his radio show. "Hu Jintao — he was speaking and they weren't translating. They normally translate every couple of words. Hu Jintao was just going ching chong, ching chong cha," said Limbaugh, who imitated Hu's speech. Yee criticized Limbaugh for his remarks: "His classless act is an insult to over 3,000 years of cultural history, and is a slap in the face to the millions of Chinese Americans who have struggled in this country and to a people who constitute one-quarter of the world's population."[77] He demanded an apology from Limbaugh for what he and others view as racist and derogatory remarks. He also organized with civil rights groups—including Chinese for Affirmative Action, Japanese American Citizens League and the California National Organization for Women—to boycott companies that advertise on Limbaugh's talk show.[78][79] Yee states he has received threatening messages and also received a fax from an unknown sender who made racist comments and labeling him a Marxist.[80]

2014

On January 30, 2014, Yee voted in favor of California Senate Constitutional Amendment 5.[81] The proposed bill asked California voters to repeal provisions of Proposition 209 and to permit state universities to consider an applicant's race, ethnicity or national origin in making admissions decisions. After hearing strong opposition to the bill from Asian-American community, Yee, along with Senators Carol Liu and Ted Lieu who had also voted for the bill, jointly issued a statement on February 27, calling for the bill to be withheld pending further consultations with the "affected communities."[82]

Arrest and conviction on corruption charges and arms trafficking

An affidavit was filed on March 14, 2014, and unsealed on March 26, 2014, charging Yee with violating Title 18 United States Code Section 1343 and 1346 for honest services wire fraud by allegedly taking bribes from Well Tech, Ghee Kung Tong, and for medical marijuana legislation from undercover FBI agents in return for promises of official action; and Title 18 US Code Sections 371, 922(a)(1) and 922(1) for conspiracy to deal firearms without a license and to illegally import firearms from the Philippines by setting up an international weapons trafficking deal with undercover FBI agents.[83][84] Yee was named with 28 other defendants in the FBI criminal complaint.

Yee was accused of dealing firearms without a license and illegally importing firearms. He was also accused of accepting "tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions and cash payments to provide introductions, help a client get a contract, and influence legislation." Yee and his campaign staff allegedly accepted at least $42,800 from undercover FBI agents in exchange for carrying out specific requests. Yee discussed the opportunity for an agent to get weapons worth up to $2.5 million from a Muslim separatist group in the Philippines to bring them to the US. He told the agent, "There's a part of me that wants to be like you. You know how I'm going to be like you? Just be a free agent there."[85][86] Yee was arrested on March 26, 2014 and charged with six counts of depriving the public of honest services and one count of conspiracy to traffic guns without a license.[87][88][89] He was released on $500,000 bail.[90]

The FBI raided Yee's office at the California State Capitol and the San Francisco Chinatown office of the Ghee Kung Tong fraternal organization. This was linked to the arrest, on March 26, 2014, of Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow.[91][92]

Federal prosecutors on July 25, 2014 added charges of racketeering for trying to get campaign contributions from the owner of an unnamed National Football League team in exchange for supporting legislation favored by league owners and opposed by some players.[93]

On July 1, 2015, Yee pled guilty to charges of racketeering.[94] He was sentenced to 5 years in prison on February 24, 2016,[5] and was released in June 2020.[6]

Mayoral and secretary of State campaigns

On November 10, 2010 Yee filed his candidacy for the 2011 San Francisco mayoral election.[95] Yee placed fifth in the nonpartisan primary election.

In November 2012, Yee declared that he would run for secretary of state of California in 2014.[96] On March 27, 2014, after being arrested on corruption charges, Yee's attorney stated that Yee would withdraw his candidacy for Secretary of State of California.[97] Despite the charges pending against Yee, and his withdrawal from the race, Yee received 9.8% of the vote in the non-partisan primary for Secretary of State.[98]

Yee's 2010 mayoral race ended in debt, and financing his first statewide race for California Secretary of State in 2014 was problematic. Yet Yee opposed CA Proposition 15 on the June 8, 2010 statewide ballot in California which, had it been enacted, would have raised fees on registered lobbyists in California to fund with matching grants political campaigns for qualified candidates running for the Office of the California Secretary of State as a pilot project in 2014 and 2018.

Personal life

Leland Yee married his wife Maxine in 1972 and together they raised four children who attended San Francisco public schools. He made his home in San Francisco 's Sunset District,[99][100] but turned himself in to the U.S. Marshal's Service on March 25, 2016 to serve a five-year federal prison sentence.[5]

In February 2013, Yee claimed that he had received a death threat, which was very explicit, and not like previous claimed death threats. The writer stated that he was a trained Marine sniper, and objected to Yee's actions on gun control. On Tuesday, February 12, 2013, Everett Basham, 45, a Silicon Valley engineer, was arrested and charged.[101][102] Basham later pleaded no contest to the charges,[103] and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.[104]

Awards

Yee was named the California Legislator of the Year by San Francisco Women's Political Committee, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME Local 3299), California Society of Certified Public Accountants, Associated Students of the University of California (Davis) [49] and the California Faculty Association[105] among others.[106]

Yee has also been awarded the following awards:

  • Gun Violence Prevention Honor Roll by the Brady Campaign.[107]
  • Freedom of Information Award by the California Newspaper Publishers Association[108]
  • Modern Day Abolitionist Award by the San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking[109]
  • Building a State of Equality by Equality California[110]
  • Distinguished Service to Journalism Education Award by the Journalism Association of Community Colleges[111]
  • Service Award by Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse of San Mateo County[112]
  • Scholastic Journalism Award by the Journalism Education Association[49]
  • Beacon Award by the First Amendment Coalition[113]
  • Leadership Award from the California Animal Association[49]
  • Special Friend of Children Award by the National Association of School Psychologists[114]
  • Public Official Award by the Society of Professional Journalists[115]

See also

  • History of the Chinese Americans in San Francisco

References

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  2. Lucas, Scott (2014-03-27). "The Indictment Against Leland Yee Puts "The Wire's" Clay Davis to Shame". http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/the-indictment-against-leland-yee-puts-the-wires-clay-davis-shame. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 McGreevy, Patrick. "In unprecedented move, state Senate votes to suspend three lawmakers", Los Angeles Times , March 28, 2014.
  4. "Ex-Calif. Sen. Leland Yee Pleads Guilty in Chinatown Corruption Case". nbcbayarea.com. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Ex-Calif-Sen-Leland-Yee-Pleads-Guilty-Racketeering-in-Chinatown-Corruption-Case-311242141.html. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Former state Sen. Leland Yee sentenced to prison". InsideBayArea.com. http://www.insidebayarea.com/california/ci_29556899/former-state-sen-leland-yee-sentenced-prison. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 Anna Bauman (June 30, 2020). "Leland Yee, convicted in 2015 corruption scandal, released from federal prison". San Francisco Chronicle. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Leland-Yee-convicted-in-2015-corruption-scandal-15378045.php. 
  7. "Guangdong Foreign Affairs-Guangdong-Hu Wei hosts banquet for California State Senator Leland Yee". Gdfao.gov.cn. http://www.gdfao.gov.cn/english/news/guangdong/200612310010.htm. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 Zimmerman, Malia (August 23, 2011). "Leading Candidate for San Francisco Mayor Has Criminal Record in Hawaii". Hawaii Reporter. 
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  10. Matier, Phillip (October 13, 2000). "Mug Shot Doesn't Flatter Supervisor". The San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Mug-Shot-Doesn-t-Flatter-Supervisor-3326339.php. 
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  17. Yee (April 21, 2004). "AB 2412 Assembly Bill - Bill Analysis". Info.sen.ca.gov. http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/03-04/bill/asm/ab_2401-2450/ab_2412_cfa_20040519_181337_asm_floor.html. 
  18. "www.sagesf.org". http://www.sagesf.org/images/California_AB3042.pdf. 
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  20. Yee. "AB 800 Assembly Bill - Bill Analysis". Info.sen.ca.gov. http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_800_cfa_20050824_165627_asm_floor.html. 
  21. Thorsen, Tor (October 7, 2005). "Schwarzenegger signs game-restriction bill - News at GameSpot". Gamespot.com. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6135332.html. 
  22. "Lawmakers resolute against offshore oil drilling". Smdailyjournal.com. July 12, 2005. http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=46196&title=Lawmakers%20resolute%20against%20offshore%20oil%20drilling&eddate=07/12/2005. 
  23. "Leland Yee on Hot Coffee mod". January 10, 2007. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6129209.html. 
  24. "Gamasutra". January 10, 2007. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=5868. 
  25. "California 2005 Video Game Law Ruled Unconstitutional". January 10, 2007. http://gamepolitics.com/2007/08/06/breaking-california-2005-video-game-law-ruled-unconstitutional. 
  26. "Senator Leland Yee - 2006 Legislation". Dist08.casen.govoffice.com. http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={0A580249-1356-4148-985C-11C5171E324F}. 
  27. Chavez. "AB 1969 Assembly Bill - Bill Analysis". Info.sen.ca.gov. http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/asm/ab_1951-2000/ab_1969_cfa_20060420_170234_asm_comm.html. 
  28. "Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Protect Student Freedom of Speech". Gov.ca.gov. http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/3659/. 
  29. Lelchuk, Ilene; Fernandez, Elizabeth (August 10, 2006). "Mother sues Mountain View nail salon over daughter's death". The San Francisco Chronicle. http://articles.sfgate.com/2006-08-10/news/17305915_1_salon-customers-whirlpool-pedicure-top-hair-nail. 
  30. "Three GLBT-Friendly Bills Advance in California Legislature; One To Oppose By Dennis McMillan : January 12, 2006". Sfbaytimes.com. https://www.sfbaytimes.com/index.php?sec=article&article_id=4503. 
  31. "CA June 6, 2006 Primary Results". January 10, 2007. http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns/stsen/0800.htm. 
  32. 33.0 33.1 "CA Secretary of State - General Election- State Senate District 8 - Districtwide". http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns/stsen/0800.htm. 
  33. 34.0 34.1 "Senator Leland Yee - Committee Membership". Dist08.casen.govoffice.com. http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_LIST&SEC={961EC3F6-2749-4496-8936-F676D9BA4389}. 
  34. "Ex-Calif. State Sen. Leland Yee, gun control champion, heading to prison for weapons trafficking". Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/02/25/ex-calif-state-sen-leeland-yee-gun-control-champion-heading-to-prison-for-weapons-trafficking/. 
  35. Staff Writers. Sen. Yee charged with trafficking firearms in sweeping FBI probe, Los Angeles Times , March 26, 2014.
  36. "YEE INTRODUCES BILL TO CLOSE LOOPHOLE IN ASSAULT WEAPON LAW". May 21, 2012. http://sd08.senate.ca.gov/news/2012-05-21-yee-introduces-bill-close-loophole-assault-weapon-law. 
  37. "CBS 5 Report Inspires New Legislation To Ban 'Bullet Button'". CBS San Francisco. May 20, 2012. http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/05/20/cbs-5-story-inspires-new-legislation-to-ban-bullet-button/. 
  38. 39.0 39.1 "Senator Leland Yee - 2007 Legislation". Dist08.casen.govoffice.com. http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={EEB24B66-76BE-4AB1-97B4-C99A9968387E}. 
  39. Rob Rogers. "State bill could break up roadside car lot sales - Marin Independent Journal". Marinij.com. http://www.marinij.com/ci_6363940. 
  40. "California Senate Majority Caucus - Senator Yee on SB 190: UC/CSU Transparency Bill". Democrats.sen.ca.gov. April 23, 2007. http://democrats.sen.ca.gov/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC={3FCA7D16-2378-49E0-886D-685939CE9683}&DE={7647712C-440C-4F87-B677-013809AF63FF}. 
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  42. "The Council of UC Faculty Associations". Cucfa.org. May 29, 2007. http://cucfa.org/news/2007_may29.php. 
  43. "Leland Yee Zings Army over Video Game Recruiting Effort". GamePolitics.com. January 10, 2007. http://gamepolitics.com/2007/04/12/breaking-yee-spanks-army-over-video-game-recruiting-efforts/. 
  44. "California's Leland Yee Demands Answers on Manhunt 2 Re-rate". GamePolitics.com. January 10, 2007. http://gamepolitics.com/2007/08/27/breaking-californias-leland-yee-demands-answers-on-manhunt-2-re-rate/. 
  45. "ESRB Refuses to Detail Manhunt 2 Re-rate - Edge Magazine". Next-gen.biz. August 28, 2007. http://www.next-gen.biz/news/esrb-refuses-detail-manhunt-2-re-rate. 
  46. "Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Urgently Needed Legislation to Protect Consumers from Unfair Health Care Practices". Gov.ca.gov. http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/10694. 
  47. "Dispute over who pays for medical services - Marin Independent Journal". Marinij.com. November 17, 2007. http://www.marinij.com/ci_7494816?source=most_viewed. 
  48. 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 "Several new laws to take effect January 1". Asianjournal.com. December 16, 2009. http://www.asianjournal.com/community/community-news/3922-several-new-laws-to-take-effect-january-1.html. 
  49. "Tenants Together : Bill Approved to Stop Evictions of Domestic Violence Victims". Tenantstogether.org. May 6, 2009. http://tenantstogether.org/article.php?id=711. 
  50. Yee. "SB 1370 Senate Bill - Bill Analysis". Info.sen.ca.gov. http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_1351-1400/sb_1370_cfa_20080409_133510_sen_comm.html. 
  51. Yee (February 22, 2008). "SB 1696 Senate Bill - INTRODUCED". Info.sen.ca.gov. http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_1651-1700/sb_1696_bill_20080222_introduced.html. 
  52. Mitchell, Jeff (November 16, 2009). "S.F. streets among most dangerous for pedestrians - Sacramento Recreation and Places to Visit - Sacramento, Gold Country, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco | Sacramento Bee". Sacbee.com. http://www.sacbee.com/2009/11/16/2327863/sf-streets-among-most-dangerous.html.  [|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  53. "Lieu and Yee Help Rescind LPGA English Language Policy Penalty" . AsianWeek. Retrieved on September 8, 2008.
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  55. Senator Yee. "BILL NUMBER: SB 242 INTRODUCED". http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0201-0250/sb_242_bill_20090224_introduced.html. 
  56. McKinley, Jesse (January 28, 2008). "California Governor's Plan for Health Care in Trouble". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/us/28healthcare.html. 
  57. 58.0 58.1 Pacifica Tribune (June 17, 2010). "State Senator Leland Yee guest speaker at Pacifica Democrats' meeting - San Jose Mercury News". Mercurynews.com. http://www.mercurynews.com/pacifica-news/ci_15303890. 
  58. "On petition for a writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit". http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/vertical/Sites/%7BBF15804D-042F-4DCF-8803-86441E95CD9F%7D/uploads/%7BF338F527-8D2E-4B9B-8A2F-B6D865D54A31%7D.PDF. 
  59. Kuchera, Ben (July 23, 2009). "Sensationalist legal brief aims to revive CA game law". Arstechnica.com. https://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/07/sensationalist-legal-brief-aims-to-revive-ca-game-law.ars. 
  60. Kapur, Sahil (May 30, 2010). "California passes bill to counteract 'disturbing' Texas curriculum". Raw Story. http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0530/california-disturbing-texas-curriculum/. 
  61. "MAXIMUM INSECURITY / California's prison system produces bizarre and dangerous results harmful to inmates and public". The San Francisco Chronicle. May 18, 2010. http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-05-18/opinion/20902779_1_non-homicide-juvenile-parole. 
  62. "PolitiCal". Los Angeles Times. June 4, 2010. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/06/senate-rejects-limits-on-phone-books.html. 
  63. 64.0 64.1 "Bay Area Lawmakers Behind Some of the Newest Statutes to Take Effect". Kron4.com. December 26, 2009. http://kron4.com/News/ArticleView/tabid/298/smid/1126/ArticleID/4315/reftab/64/t/Bay%20Area%20Lawmakers%20Behind%20Some%20of%20the%20Newest%20Statutes%20to%20Take%20Effect/Default.aspx. [yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  64. "CA bills push rules for ski, snowboard industry | 89.3 KPCC". Scpr.org. http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/03/15/ca-bills-push-rules-ski-snowboard-industry/. 
  65. "Hike in fee might fund DV shelters". Smdailyjournal.com. January 2, 2010. http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=122136&title=Hike%20in%20fee%20might%20fund%20DV%20shelters&eddate=01/02/2010%2002:09:00. 
  66. "Senator Leland Yee, Ph.D. - 2010 Legislation". Dist08.casen.govoffice.com. http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={DB36A2CD-223B-4DD3-82AF-BC42FA0D67DE}. 
  67. Marinucci, Carla (January 25, 2011). "California lawmakers rack up gasoline tabs". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/California-lawmakers-rack-up-gasoline-tabs-2461562.php. "Likewise, Adam Keigwin, spokesman for Yee, said the Democrat commutes daily from the state Capitol to his district - a decision that he said enables him to hold daily and evening meetings to better serve his constituents." 
  68. "Palin Stanislaus Speech: Leland Yee Calls For Investigation, Proposes New Requirements". Huffingtonpost.com. April 14, 2010. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/08/palin-stanislaus-speech-l_n_529629.html. 
  69. 70.0 70.1 Rivera, Carla (April 13, 2010). "Palin speech at Cal State campus draws attention to foundations linked to universities - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. https://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/13/local/la-me-calstate13-2010apr13. 
  70. Rivera, Carla (May 28, 2010). "Palin to get $75,000 for Cal State Stanislaus speech - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. https://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/28/local/la-me-calstate-palin-20100528. 
  71. "Palin speaking fee uncovered | St. Louis Globe-Democrat". Globe-democrat.com. May 28, 2010. http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010/may/28/palin-speaking-fee-uncovered/. 
  72. "CSU Stanislaus Foundation hosts largest fundraising event in university's history; CSU Stanislaus Foundation". www.csustan.edu. June 25, 2010. http://apps.csustan.edu/news/news_story_full.aspx?WNTNEWS_ID=4201&WNTNEWSDir=Asc&WNTNEWSPageSize=10. 
  73. "Assemblymember Paul Fong Representing the 22nd Assembly District". Democrats.assembly.ca.gov. http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a22/. 
  74. Boychuk, Ben (March 9, 2011). "Head to Head: To protect sharks, should state ban the sale or possession of shark fins? - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee". Sacbee.com. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/09/3459963/head-to-head-to-protect-sharks.html. 
  75. "Senator Leland Yee Throws Down: Goes to Chinatown, Supports a Nuanced Approach to Shark Fin Soup « San Francisco Citizen". Sfcitizen.com. February 14, 2011. http://sfcitizen.com/blog/2011/02/14/senator-leland-yee-throws-down-goes-to-chinatown-supports-a-nuanced-approach-to-shark-fin-soup/. 
  76. "Rush Limbaugh Mocks Chinese President Hu Jintao". ABC News. January 20, 2011. http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/01/rush-limbaugh-mocks-chinese-president-hu-jintao.html. 
  77. Lin, Judy (January 28, 2011). "Asian-American lawmakers demand Limbaugh apology". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Associated Press. http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/asian-american-lawmakers-demand-818553.html. 
  78. "Asian-American officials seek Limbaugh apology". USA Today. Associated Press. January 28, 2011. https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-01-28-asian-americans-limbaugh_N.htm. 
  79. "Senator Yee says racist statements, death threats need to stop". MercuryNews.com. Bay City News Service (MediaNews Group). January 27, 2011. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17216323?nclick_check=1. 
  80. "Bill documents". http://legiscan.com/CA/rollcall/SCA5/id/313934. 
  81. André Coleman & Kevin Uhrich, "A Giant Awakens" Pasadena Weekly March 12, 2014
  82. US District court (March 26, 2014). "Affidavit of Special Agent Emmanuel V. Pascua in Support of Complaint". FBI. http://www.sfgate.com/file/757/757-complaint_affidavit_14-70421-nc.pdf. 
  83. Vives, Ruben; Phil Willon (March 26, 2014). "Sen. Leland Yee, S.F. Chinatown figure arrested in corruption raids". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-yee-sf-crime-figure-arrested-corruption-raids-fbi-20140326,0,6304631.story#axzz2x6TsPdZO. 
  84. "Excerpts from FBI California corruption case docs". https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/excerpts-from-fbi-california-corruption-case-docs/2014/03/26/83184eb0-b548-11e3-bab2-b9602293021d_story.html. 
  85. "Excerpts from State Sen. Yee corruption case docs | www.ktvu.com". http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/crime-law/excerpts-state-sen-yee-corruption-case-docs/nfMFQ/. 
  86. Elias, Paul (March 26, 2014). "CALIFORNIA LAWMAKER FACES GUN, CORRUPTION CHARGES". Associated Press. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/fbi-california-state-sen-leland-yee-arrested. 
  87. Mason, Melanie (March 27, 2014). "Leland Yee indictment may mark abrupt end to his political career". Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-yee-indictment-political-career-20140327,0,4920941.story. 
  88. Dudnick, Laura (March 26, 2014). "State Sen. Leland Yee arrest casts light on complex corruption case". San Francisco Examiner. http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/sf-state-sen-leland-yee-arrested-on-bribery-corruption-charges/Content?oid=2745536. 
  89. "Leland Yee Remains Free on 0,000 Bail After Court Hearing - News Fix - KQED News". http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/03/31/yee/. 
  90. "Report: Sen. Leland Yee arrested on bribery, corruption charges". krca.com. http://www.kcra.com/news/fbi-conducting-multiple-raids-in-norcal/25172542. 
  91. "Report: State Sen. Leland Yee indicted for public corruption in major FBI operation". mercurynews.com. http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_25423273/bay-area-fbi-serving-multiple-arrest-search-warrants. 
  92. Cadelago, Christopher; Siders, David; Miller, Jim (July 25, 2014). "Sen. Yee faces racketeering charge in new indictment". Sacramento Bee. http://www.sacbee.com/2014/07/25/6583124/sen-yee-faces-racketeering-charge.html. 
  93. Former Sen. Yee changes plea to guilty, San Francisco Chronicle, July 1, 2015.
  94. "State Sen. Leland Yee Joins SF Mayor's Race". Dist08.casen.govoffice.com. http://sfappeal.com/news/2010/11/state-sen-leland-yee-joins-sf-mayors-race.php. 
  95. Marisa Lagos (November 25, 2012) Leland Yee to run for secretary of state San Francisco Gate. Retrieved March 27, 2014
  96. Katie Marzulo (March 27, 2014) [1] ABC - KGOTV San Francisco. Retrieved March 27, 2014
  97. "California 2014 primary election complete results". http://graphics.latimes.com/calif-primary-election-results-2014/. 
  98. "Property valuation of 24th Avenue, San Francisco, CA: 1368 (SUK PO TONG & SHIRLEY TONG & TONG K TONG), 1370 (LELAND Y YEE & MAXINE Y YEE), 1371 (ELLA TKACH), 1375 (FMLY CHAN TR), 1376 (LI SANDY TRUST), 1379 (LAI LIM REVOCABLE JANE TR), 1380 (ERNEST BLOOMFIELD REVOC TR 200), 1382 (LIU JENNIFER TRUST), 1385 (FAMILY HAU TRUST), 1386 (SHERI LYNN ELBERT) (tax assessments)". http://www.city-data.com/san-francisco/2/24th-Avenue-33.html. 
  99. "San Francisco Bay Guardian - Uh oh". http://www.sfbg.com/print/2011/08/30/real-leland-yee. 
  100. La Ganga, Maria (February 14, 2013). "Yee calls death threat over gun measures explicit and chilling". Los Angeles Times. https://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/14/local/la-me-pc-yee-death-threat-20130214. 
  101. Knowles, David (March 13, 2013). "Man threatens to assassinate California lawmaker over his support of tighter gun laws". NY Daily News (New York). http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/man-threatens-kill-official-stop-gun-control-article-1.1287752. 
  102. McGreevey, Patrick (October 28, 2013). "Man pleads to charges after threatening senator over gun control bill". Los Angeles Times. https://articles.latimes.com/2013/oct/28/local/la-me-pc-man-pleads-guilty-after-threatening-senator-over-gun-control-bill-20131028. 
  103. Santa Clara Man Sentenced For Threatening Former Sen. Leland Yee Over Firearms Bill, NBC Bay Area, December 5, 2014.
  104. "Data". http://www.asianjournal.com/data/PDF/2010.../2010_05_07_SF_B%206.pdf. 
  105. "Senator Leland Yee - Awards and Honors". Dist08.casen.govoffice.com. http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={CDF69DB5-7977-4494-9AFB-DAF8CEE64FC5}. 
  106. "Brady Campaign to Honor Yee for Violence Prevention | Senator Leland Yee, Ph.D.". http://sd08.senate.ca.gov/news/2006-08-04-brady-campaign-honor-yee-violence-prevention. 
  107. "CNPA seeks nominees for FOI Award". Cnpa.com. http://www.cnpa.com/full_story.cfm?id=1621. 
  108. PDT (February 7, 2010). "Yee to be honored for work against human trafficking | San Francisco Examiner". Sfexaminer.com. http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/yee-to-be-honored-for-work-against-human-trafficking/Content?oid=2136040. 
  109. "Biography of State Senator Leland Yee - California State Independent Living Council". http://www.calsilc.org/SILC_Quarterly_Meeting_March_2009/9-Leeland_Yee_biography.doc. 
  110. "Report Shows 70% of California Public Universities Violate Speech Laws". California Progress Report. December 11, 2009. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/?q=node/7220. 
  111. PDT (May 7, 2010). "Yee honored for work saving domestic violence shelters | San Francisco Examiner". Sfexaminer.com. http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Yee-honored-for-work-saving-domestic-violence-shelters-93048254.html. 
  112. "FAC names free speech award winners–and one loser". First Amendment Coalition. October 22, 2009. http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2009/10/first-amendment-coalition-names-free-speech-award-winners-and-one-loser/. 
  113. "Archived copy". http://www.nasponline.org/press/06awards.pdf. 
  114. "wins local journalism award". SF Public Press. http://sfpublicpress.org/blog/2010-02/sf-public-press-wins-local-journalism-award. 

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
District 4

1997–2002
Succeeded by
Fiona Ma
Preceded by
Speaker pro tempore of the California Assembly
2003-2006
Succeeded by
Sally J. Lieber
Unrecognised parameter
Preceded by
Jackie Speier
State Senator, 8th District
2006-2014
Succeeded by
Vacant