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title: FBI Busts Pro-Gun Control State Senator For Alleged Gun Running, Mob Ties | TIME
description: FBI investigators arrested State Sen. Leland Yee Wednesday, accusing the Democrat of ties to mobsters and soliciting campaign donations. Investigators say Yee took bribes and even offered to set up undercover agents with international arms dealers.
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og:description: FBI investigators arrested State Sen. Leland Yee Wednesday, accusing the Democrat of ties to mobsters and soliciting campaign donations. Investigators say Yee took bribes and even offered to set up undercover agents with international arms dealers.
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twitter:description: FBI investigators arrested State Sen. Leland Yee Wednesday, accusing the Democrat of ties to mobsters and soliciting campaign donations. Investigators say Yee took bribes and even offered to set up undercover agents with international arms dealers.
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# FBI Busts Pro-Gun Control State Senator For Alleged Gun Running, Mob Ties

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/1RK2RsAU.m3u8" -->
## Video: FBI Busts Pro-Gun Control State Senator For Alleged Gun Running, Mob Ties

[Watch (HLS stream): FBI Busts Pro-Gun Control State Senator For Alleged Gun Running, Mob Ties](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/1RK2RsAU.m3u8) (2:39)

![FBI Busts Pro-Gun Control State Senator For Alleged Gun Running, Mob Ties](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/1RK2RsAU/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2014-03-28. FBI investigators arrested State Sen. Leland Yee Wednesday, accusing the Democrat of ties to mobsters and soliciting campaign donations. Investigators say Yee took bribes and even offered to set up undercover agents with international arms dealers._


---

Jul 27, 2023 4:20 PM UTC

---

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---


## Transcript

The FBI busts a San Francisco State Senator, known for his pro gun control stance. And once considered the front runner to be voted in as California's Secretary of State. Investigators say Leland Yee took bribes and offered to set up undercover agents with international arms dealers. Yee was plotting with the undercover FBI agents to deliver a huge shipment of weapons from the Philippines. Yee, quoted in the affidavit, telling the agent, do I think we an make some money? I think we can make some money. The FBI affidavit also refers to the state Senator as, Uncle Leland. Saying that he was more than willing to help traffic in illegal weapons, in exchange for money.

Yee's district covers part of the San Francisco Bay area. And he ran an unsuccessful bid to become the city's mayor in 2011. Yee's supporters and advocates have expressed disbelief or sadness at his arrest and indictment. In large part because of quotes like this, from the democrat over the years. I know how important dealing with gun violence is. All you have to do, is to think about the young kids that were slaughtered in Connecticut. San Francisco area media report, Yee wasn't the main target in the FBI's five- year investigation. Which culminated on Wednesday with raids to capture 26 people.

Investigators wanted to nail Raymond Shrimp Boy Chow, featured here in a 2008 episode of the History Channel's Gangland. Chow is a Chinatown gangster who'd previously spent time in prison. But claimed he'd gone straight. The affidavit explains Chow introduced an undercover agent to one of Yee's political consultants and fundraisers. The arrest led to a host of headlines and reaction, calling Yee an assortment of names. The Chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms wrote, if these allegations are true. Senator Yee is easily the biggest hypocrite on gun control to walk the halls of the capital in Sacramento.

If not the entire United States. One political consultant noted this may signal a larger change other politicians should suddenly be wary of. After more than a decade of the FBI focusing on terrorism, he told KGO TV, political corruption could be making a comeback with federal investigators. Do not underestimate the jitters that this will send throughout the halls of Sacramento. Who's watching me? Have I done anything wrong? And, am I on somebody's video tape? While Yee's attorney says he hasn't made a decision on his state Senate seat. Yee did announce his withdrawal Thursday from the race for California Secretary of State.

Thanks for watching. I'm Cliff Judy.

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