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{{short description|American criminal and former Democratic California State Senator}}
{{Infobox State Senator
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2016}}
| name = Leland Yee<br>余胤良
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Leland yee at Pressconference.JPG
| imagesize = 220px | name = Leland Yee
| image = Leland Yee.jpg
| state_senate = California State | state_senate = California State
| district = ] | district = ]
| term_start = December 2006 | term_start = December 4, 2006
| term_end = | term_end = March 28, 2014
| predecessor = ] | predecessor = ]
| successor = | successor = ]
| state_assembly2 = California | state_assembly2 = California
| district2 = ] | district2 = ]
| term_start2 = December 2002 | term_start2 = December 2, 2002
| term_end2 = December 2006 | term_end2 = November 30, 2006
| predecessor2 = ] | predecessor2 = ]
| successor2 = ] | successor2 = ]
| office3 = Member of the<br>]<br>from ] | office3 = Member of the ] from the ] district
| term_start3 = January 1997 | term_start3 = January 1997
| term_end3 = December 2002 | term_end3 = December 2, 2002
| predecessor3 = ''district created in 2000; prior terms were for city-wide seat'' | predecessor3 = ''district created in 2000; prior terms were for city-wide seat''
| successor3 = ] | successor3 = ]
| birth_name = Yu Yin Liang<ref>{{cite news|last=Ni|first=Ching-Ching|title=Candidates making up new names on ballots translated into Chinese|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2011-may-17-la-me-chinese-names-20110517-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 4, 2014|date=May 17, 2011|quote=In 2009, Yee, whose Mandarin name is Yu Yin Liang, got a bill through the Legislature that would have required candidates to use phonetic transliterations of their names in election materials printed in character-based scripts...}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1948|11|20}}
| birth_place = ], ] | birth_date = c. 1955 (aged c. 69)
| birth_place = ], ], ]
| death_date =
| death_place = | death_date =
| restingplace = | death_place =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| nationality = ]
| party = ] | party = ]
| children = | children =
| residence = ], ] | spouse = Maxine Yee
| residence =
| alma_mater = ]<br>]<br>]
| occupation = ] | education = {{Plain list|
* ] (])
| profession = ]
* ] (])
| religion =
* ] (])
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}} }}
| module = {{infobox criminal
| child=yes
| criminal_charge = {{Plain list|
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
| conviction = ]
| conviction_penalty = Five years in federal prison
| conviction_status = Released
}}
| signature =
| website = <br/>
| footnotes =
| module2 = {{infobox Chinese
| child=yes
| c = {{linktext|余|胤|良}}
| p = Yú Yìn Liáng
| j = Jyu Jan Loeng
|hide=no}}
| caption = Yee in 2010
}}
'''Leland Yin Yee''' ({{zh|c=余胤良|p=Yú Yìnliáng|j=jyu4 jan6 loeng4|first=j}}; born {{Circa}} 1955) is an American former politician who served as a member of the ] for ], which covered parts of ] and the ].


'''Leland Yee''' ({{zh|c=]]]|p=Yú Yìnliáng}}, born November 20, 1948 in ]) is a ] in District 8 which includes the western half of ] and most of ]. Prior to becoming state senator, Yee was a ]man, Supervisor of San Francisco's Sunset District, and was a member of the San Francisco School Board. In 2004 Yee became the first ] to be appointed ], making him the second highest ranking ] of the ]. Prior to becoming state senator, Yee was a ]man, ] of San Francisco's Sunset District, and President of the ]. In 2004 Yee became the first ] to be appointed ], making him the second highest ranking ] of the California State Assembly.
==Early life==
Leland Yee immigrated to ] from ]<ref></ref>, ], ] when he was three years old and later became a ] ] ]. His father served in the ].<ref></ref> Yee attended San Francisco's ] and earned a bachelor's degree from ], a master's from ] and a ] in ] from the ]. Leland Yee met and married his wife Maxine in 1972 and together they raised four children who attended SF public schools. He currently lives in ]'s Sunset District.


In 2015, Yee pleaded guilty to felony ] charges for ], ], ], and ]. Yee was arrested by the ] (FBI) on March 26, 2014, on charges related to ] and ]—specifically, buying automatic firearms and shoulder-launched missiles from the ] (MILF), an ] extremist group located in the southern ] 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 ] regarding a contract at the organization.<ref name="SFLucas03262014">{{Cite web |last=Lucas |first=Scott |date=2014-03-27 |title=The Indictment Against Leland Yee Puts 'The Wire's' Clay Davis to Shame |url=http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/the-indictment-against-leland-yee-puts-the-wires-clay-davis-shame |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109033743/http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/the-indictment-against-leland-yee-puts-the-wires-clay-davis-shame |archive-date=2019-01-09 |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=]}}</ref>
==Political career==
===School Board===
Yee was elected to the ] school board in 1988 and served two four-year terms on the School Board including one as Board President.


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.<ref name="McGreevyLATimes03282014">McGreevy, Patrick. , '']'', March 28, 2014.</ref> 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 ] figures based in San Francisco's ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Ex-Calif-Sen-Leland-Yee-Pleads-Guilty-Racketeering-in-Chinatown-Corruption-Case-311242141.html |title=Ex-Calif. Sen. Leland Yee Pleads Guilty in Chinatown Corruption Case |date=July 2015 |publisher=] |access-date=July 1, 2015}}</ref> On February 24, 2016, Yee was sentenced to five years in federal prison,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = Former state Sen. Leland Yee sentenced to prison|url = http://www.insidebayarea.com/california/ci_29556899/former-state-sen-leland-yee-sentenced-prison |publisher = InsideBayArea.com |access-date = February 24, 2016}}</ref> and was released on June 26, 2020.<ref name =sfchron>{{Cite news|title = Leland Yee, convicted in 2015 corruption scandal, released from federal prison|url =https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Leland-Yee-convicted-in-2015-corruption-scandal-15378045.php|work = ]|access-date = August 11, 2020|date=June 30, 2020|author=Anna Bauman}}</ref>
===District 4 Supervisor===
Leland Yee became supervisor in 1996. As ] supervisor Yee was appointed to chair of 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 of Supervisors in 2002. Yee also hired ], who later became a supervisor, as his volunteer community liaison in 1996.


==Early life and education==
===District 12 Assemblyman===
Leland Yee immigrated to ] from his birthplace of ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gdfao.gov.cn/english/news/guangdong/200612310010.htm |title=Guangdong Foreign Affairs-Guangdong-Hu Wei hosts banquet for California State Senator Leland Yee |publisher=Gdfao.gov.cn |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707033742/http://www.gdfao.gov.cn/english/news/guangdong/200612310010.htm |archive-date=July 7, 2011 }}</ref> Guangdong, China, when he was three years old and later became a naturalized American citizen. His father served in the ] and the ].
Leland was elected to the ] ] in November 2002 to represent the 12th Assembly District.


He received his undergraduate degree at the ] and a master's degree at ] before earning his ] in ] at the ] in 1975.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite news|title=Leading Candidate for San Francisco Mayor Has Criminal Record in Hawaii |publisher=Hawaii Reporter |date= August 23, 2011 |first=Malia|last= Zimmerman}}</ref>
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.


===State Senator=== ==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.<ref name="asianamerican.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.asianamerican.net/bios/Yee-Leland.html |title=Biography of Leland Y. Yee |publisher=Asianamerican.net |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026080447/http://asianamerican.net/bios/Yee-Leland.html |archive-date=October 26, 2010 }}</ref>
On June 6, 2006, Yee defeated his opponents ] and ] to win the Democratic nomination for the ], representing the 8th District. In the final vote tally certified on June 27, 2006 by San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum,<ref name= "CA June 6, 2006 Primary Results">{{cite web |url=http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns/stsen/0800.htm |title= CA June 6, 2006 Primary Results |accessdate=2007-10-15|last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-01-10 |year= |month= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref> 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 ] in the November 7 2006 election by a landslide of 77.5% of votes cast. With ] and ] having a high Democratic base Yee was elected as Senator for the 8th District on November 7, 2006. This was a notable election making him the first ] elected to the California State Senate in 156 years. Yee replaced ], who left office due to term limits.
As State Senator, Yee passed 11 bills chaptered into law.


===San Francisco School Board===
In 2008, in a surprising twist of events in the ] English language controversy, Sen. Leland Yee of San Francisco and Assemblyman ] of Los Angeles were able to help rescind the LPGA Tour Commission’s suspension-penalty policy. Both officials publicly challenged the legality and galvanized community attention to the LPGA’s policy in August 2008 when it was released, which resulted in revision of policy by the end of 2008. <ref>. ]. Retrieved on 2008-09-08.</ref> This resulted in Yee introducing SB 242, which prohibits businesses from denying services to customers that don't speak English. Yee received hate emails and messages in response to this legislation and the bill was vetoed by Governor ] on October 11, 2009.
]]]
Yee was elected to the ] 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.<ref name="asianamerican.net" />


==Controversies== ====1992====
In 1992, Yee was arrested for allegedly shoplifting a bottle of tanning oil and gum from the ] in ]'s Keauhou Shopping Village. The case was not prosecuted, as Yee disappeared before he could be prosecuted.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Mug-Shot-Doesn-t-Flatter-Supervisor-3326339.php | title=Mug Shot Doesn't Flatter Supervisor | work=The San Francisco Chronicle | first=Phillip | last=Matier | date=October 13, 2000}}</ref>
===Allegations of shoplifting and prostitution===
On December 19, 1992 Leland Yee was spotted walking out of a KTA Superstore in ] with a small bottle of "Tropical Blend Tan Magnifier oil" in his front short pocket.<ref name=" Mug Shot Doesn't Flatter Supervisor">{{cite news|url= http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2000/10/13/MN116316.DTL&hw=leland+yee+record&sn=002&sc=701|title=Mug Shot Doesn't Flatter Supervisor|accessdate=2009-05-24|author=Phillip Matier|author2=Andrew Ross|date=October 13, 2000|publisher=]}}</ref> He was subsequently stopped by a store security officer who summoned the local police. Yee was booked on suspicion of petty misdemeanor shoplifting but the case was closed in 1993 without prejudice.
Yee has also been pulled over by ] under the suspicion that he was cruising for prostitutes in the Mission District of San Francisco on South ]. In each case, he was questioned by police and let go with no charges filed.<ref name=" Best to Stay on the Straight, Narrow Streets All the Way Home">{{cite news|url= http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/11/22/MN91849.DTL&hw=leland+yee+prostitution&sn=002&sc=610 |title= Best to Stay on the Straight, Narrow Streets All the Way Home|accessdate=2009-05-24|author=Phillip Matier|author2=Andrew Ross|date=November 22, 1999|publisher=]}}</ref>


===San Francisco Board of Supervisors===
===Video game controversies===
Yee was elected to the ] 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.<ref name="asianamerican.net"/>
In 2005, Yee criticized ] for the ] in ] and claimed that the ] knew about it in advance and criticized them for not rating it "adults only".<ref name=" Leland Yee on Hot Coffee mod">{{cite web |url= http://www.gamespot.com/news/6129209.html |title= Leland Yee on Hot Coffee mod |accessdate=2007-10-15|last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-01-10 |year= |month= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref> The controversy resulted from the ] created by PC users of the game using hacking tools to create a mod to play a mini game which was otherwise inaccessible to players.<ref name=" Yee Blasts ESRB For Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Rating">{{cite web |url= http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=5868|title= Gamasutra |accessdate=2007-02-26|last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-01-10 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref> In response, Rockstar removed the content used for the mod. That same year, Yee passed ], a video game bill that criminalizes sale of videogames 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 7th, 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.<ref name=" California 2005 Video Game Law Ruled Unconstitutional ">{{cite web |url= http://gamepolitics.com/2007/08/06/breaking-california-2005-video-game-law-ruled-unconstitutional |title= California 2005 Video Game Law Ruled Unconstitutional |accessdate=2007-02-26|last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-01-10 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref> The adverse ruling required the state to pay $324,840 to the ESA in legal fees.<ref name=" Schwarzenegger Appeals CA Game Law As Industry Seeks $320K Legal Fees">{{cite web |url= http://gamepolitics.com/2007/09/05/schwarzenegger-appeals-ca-game-law-as-industry-seeks-320k-legal-fees/|title= Schwarzenegger Appeals CA Game Law As Industry Seeks $320K Legal Fees|accessdate=2007-10-15|last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-01-10 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref> The ruling was then appealed by Governor Schwarzenegger in the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court.


====1999====
On April 12, 2007 Yee criticized the ]’s program to will spend $2 million in tax dollars to sponsor the Global Gaming League. Yee claims the military individuals on the site who are "desensitized to real-life violence through the online violent video games."<ref name=" Leland Yee Zings Army over Video Game Recruiting Effort">{{cite web |url= http://gamepolitics.com/2007/04/12/breaking-yee-spanks-army-over-video-game-recruiting-efforts/ |title= Leland Yee Zings Army over Video Game Recruiting Effort |accessdate=2007-10-15|last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-01-10 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref>
]In 1999, Yee was stopped twice by police on suspicion of soliciting prostitutes in San Francisco's ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704156304576003860604013634|title=Mayoral Hopeful Ready for Scrutiny|first=Stu|last=Woo|date=December 9, 2010|access-date=June 19, 2016|newspaper=Wall Street Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/good-scout-bad-boy-examining-the-virtues-of-leland-yee/Content?oid=2182216|title=Good Scout, Bad Boy: Examining the Virtues of Leland Yee|first=Matt|last=Smith|work=SF Weekly |access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref>


===California Assembly===
On August 29, 2007 Leland Yee criticized the ] for not disclosing what content was removed from ] to re-rate the game from an AO rating for violence to the ESRB Mature rating.<ref name=" California’s Leland Yee Demands Answers on Manhunt 2 Re-rate">{{cite web |url= http://gamepolitics.com/2007/08/27/breaking-californias-leland-yee-demands-answers-on-manhunt-2-re-rate/|title= California’s Leland Yee Demands Answers on Manhunt 2 Re-rate|accessdate=2007-10-15|last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-01-10 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref> Yee asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the change in rating. In response, ESRB president ] stated the details for a product that has not yet been released will not be disclosed.<ref name=" ESRB Refuses to Detail Manhunt 2 Re-rate ">{{cite web |url= http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6981&Itemid=2 |title= ESRB Refuses to Detail Manhunt 2 Re-rate |accessdate=2007-10-15|last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-01-10 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref>
In November 2002, Yee was elected to the ] to represent the 12th district.
On July 22, 2009, Leland Yee filed an ] in support of Governor Schwarzenegger's appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the passing of a law which would criminalize the sale of extremely violent 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 reserve for the highest levels and can be accessed only by advanced players after hours upon hours of progressive mastery.”<ref>http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/vertical/Sites/{BF15804D-042F-4DCF-8803-86441E95CD9F}/uploads/{F338F527-8D2E-4B9B-8A2F-B6D865D54A31}.PDF On petition for a writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Cicuit</ref>. 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<ref>http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/07/sensationalist-legal-brief-aims-to-revive-ca-game-law.ars</ref>


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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://totalcapitol.com/?people_id=12 |title=Leland Yee |publisher=TotalCapitol |access-date=July 11, 2011}}</ref>
===Editing Misplaced Pages===
On September 4, 2007 it was revealed using ] that ] registered to computers in the California Senate office had made changes to its Misplaced Pages entry favoring Leland Yee.<ref name=" Public Radio: Yee’s Misplaced Pages Page Altered From Within State CapitolLeland Yee Zings Army over Video Game Recruiting Effort">{{cite web |url= http://gamepolitics.com/2007/09/04/public-radio-yees-wiki-edited-from-within-state-capitol/ |title= Public Radio: Yee’s Misplaced Pages Page Altered From Within State Capitol|accessdate=2007-10-15|last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-01-10 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref> It was reported that they removed the 1992 shoplifting allegations and the video game controversies sections.


====2003 – 2005====
===Opposition to Schwarzenegger healthcare plan===
In his first term in the legislature, Yee had 15 bills signed into law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={56692EB5-9098-46C7-9D6D-7CB1B343C5BB} |title=Senator Leland Yee - 2003 Legislation |publisher=Dist08.casen.govoffice.com |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627160855/http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B56692EB5-9098-46C7-9D6D-7CB1B343C5BB%7D |archive-date=June 27, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref> These bills include AB 1371 which strengthens informed consent requirements for mentally handicapped patients that take part in medical research.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmta.net/legsample.php?leg=yee_leland |title=CMTA legislative database &#124; Leland Yee &#124; Senate District 8 |publisher=Cmta.net |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref>
On January 23, 2008 during a committee meeting, Leland 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 ] led the NY Times to predict that California's healthcare bill would be effectively killed.<ref name=" California Governor’s Plan for Health Care in Trouble">{{cite web |url= http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/us/28healthcare.html |title= California Governor’s Plan for Health Care in Trouble |accessdate=2008-01-28|last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2008-01-28 |year= |month= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref>

Yee had 11 bills chartered into law in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={193FE664-7445-4F92-A6B2-65D6F6B8DA65} |title=Senator Leland Yee - 2004 Legislation |publisher=Dist08.casen.govoffice.com |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627154539/http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B193FE664-7445-4F92-A6B2-65D6F6B8DA65%7D |archive-date=June 27, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref> Noteworthy bills included AB 2412 which allows part-time community college faculty to access unemployment benefits<ref>{{cite web|author=Yee |url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/03-04/bill/asm/ab_2401-2450/ab_2412_cfa_20040519_181337_asm_floor.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709073744/http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/03-04/bill/asm/ab_2401-2450/ab_2412_cfa_20040519_181337_asm_floor.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 9, 2012 |title=AB 2412 Assembly Bill - Bill Analysis |publisher=Info.sen.ca.gov |date=April 21, 2004 |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref> and AB 3042 which enhances sentences for child prostitution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sagesf.org/images/California_AB3042.pdf|title=www.sagesf.org|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref>

Yee had 12 bills chartered into law in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={95C875E5-F599-49C3-B186-B31E8A2EA4DE} |title=Senator Leland Yee - 2005 Legislation |publisher=Dist08.casen.govoffice.com |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628235428/http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B95C875E5-F599-49C3-B186-B31E8A2EA4DE%7D |archive-date=June 28, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref> Included in his bill package were AB 800 which ensures a patient's medical records include his/her spoken language,<ref>{{cite web|author=Yee |url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_800_cfa_20050824_165627_asm_floor.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711123823/http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_800_cfa_20050824_165627_asm_floor.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |title=AB 800 Assembly Bill - Bill Analysis |publisher=Info.sen.ca.gov |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref> AB 1179 which would have banned the sale of violent video games to children (which was later declared unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court.),<ref>{{cite web|last=Thorsen |first=Tor |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6135332.html |title=Schwarzenegger signs game-restriction bill - News at GameSpot |publisher=Gamespot.com |date=October 7, 2005 |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731101913/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6135332.html |archive-date=July 31, 2012 |df=mdy}}</ref> and AJR 14 which states that California officially opposes the weakening of the federal offshore oil drilling moratorium<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=46196&title=Lawmakers%20resolute%20against%20offshore%20oil%20drilling&eddate=07/12/2005 |title=Lawmakers resolute against offshore oil drilling |publisher=Smdailyjournal.com |date=July 12, 2005 |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716024633/http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=46196&title=Lawmakers%20resolute%20against%20offshore%20oil%20drilling&eddate=07%2F12%2F2005 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Following news of the "]" in ]'s '']'', Yee claimed that the ] (ESRB) knew about it in advance and criticized them for not rating the game "adults only".<ref name="Leland Yee on Hot Coffee mod">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6129209.html |title=Leland Yee on Hot Coffee mod |access-date=October 15, 2007 |date=January 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124230654/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6129209.html |archive-date=January 24, 2013 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Yee Blasts ESRB For Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Rating">{{cite web |url= http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=5868|title= Gamasutra |access-date=February 26, 2007|date=January 10, 2007}}</ref> In response, Rockstar removed the content used for the modification. That same year, Yee passed ], 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 ] (ESA) filed a lawsuit 10 days later. After the bill passed, it was ruled to be unconstitutional by Judge Ronald Whyte.<ref name="California 2005 Video Game Law Ruled Unconstitutional">{{cite web |url= http://gamepolitics.com/2007/08/06/breaking-california-2005-video-game-law-ruled-unconstitutional |title= California 2005 Video Game Law Ruled Unconstitutional |access-date=February 26, 2007|date=January 10, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011145448/http://gamepolitics.com/2007/08/06/breaking-california-2005-video-game-law-ruled-unconstitutional |archive-date = October 11, 2007 }}</ref> The adverse ruling required the state to pay $324,840 to the ESA in legal fees.<ref name="Schwarzenegger Appeals CA Game Law As Industry Seeks $320K Legal Fees">{{cite web |url= http://gamepolitics.com/2007/09/05/schwarzenegger-appeals-ca-game-law-as-industry-seeks-320k-legal-fees/|title= Schwarzenegger Appeals CA Game Law As Industry Seeks $320K Legal Fees|access-date=October 15, 2007|date=January 10, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071213081109/http://gamepolitics.com/2007/09/05/schwarzenegger-appeals-ca-game-law-as-industry-seeks-320k-legal-fees/ |archive-date = December 13, 2007 }}</ref> (This law was eventually argued before the ] in 2010 in ], in which the court struck down the law as unconstitutional.)

====2006====
Yee had 10 bills signed into law in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={0A580249-1356-4148-985C-11C5171E324F} |title=Senator Leland Yee - 2006 Legislation |publisher=Dist08.casen.govoffice.com |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601010539/http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B0A580249-1356-4148-985C-11C5171E324F%7D |archive-date=June 1, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref> Notable bills included AB 1969, which increases renewable energy production in the state,<ref>{{cite web|author=Chavez |url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/asm/ab_1951-2000/ab_1969_cfa_20060420_170234_asm_comm.html |title=AB 1969 Assembly Bill - Bill Analysis |publisher=Info.sen.ca.gov |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808033134/http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/asm/ab_1951-2000/ab_1969_cfa_20060420_170234_asm_comm.html |archive-date=August 8, 2010 }}</ref> ], which aims to protect student free speech and prohibit school administrators from censoring school newspapers and broadcast journalism,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/3659/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810125204/http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/3659/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 10, 2009 |title=Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Protect Student Freedom of Speech |publisher=Gov.ca.gov |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref> AB 409, which establishes tighter controls and higher health standards for nail salons,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.sfgate.com/health/article/The-peril-in-pedicures-Dirty-foot-spas-2491439.php | title=Mother sues Mountain View nail salon over daughter's death | first1=Ilene | last1=Lelchuk | first2=Elizabeth | last2=Fernandez | date=August 10, 2006 | work=The San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> and AB 1207, which adds sexual orientation to the list of protections in the Code of Fair Political Practices.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfbaytimes.com/index.php?sec=article&article_id=4503|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329005741/https://www.sfbaytimes.com/index.php?sec=article&article_id=4503|archive-date=March 29, 2012 |title=Three GLBT-Friendly Bills Advance in California Legislature; One To Oppose By Dennis McMillan : January 12, 2006 |publisher=Sfbaytimes.com |access-date=March 29, 2012}}</ref>

===California Senate===
On June 6, 2006, Yee defeated his opponents ] and ] to win the Democratic nomination for the ]. In the final vote tally certified on June 27, 2006, by San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum,<ref name="CA June 6, 2006 Primary Results">{{cite web|url=http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns/stsen/0800.htm |title=CA June 6, 2006 Primary Results |access-date=October 15, 2007 |date=January 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624192106/http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns//stsen/0800.htm |archive-date=June 24, 2007}}</ref> 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 ] in the November 7, 2006 election by a landslide of 77.5% of votes cast.<ref name="vote.ss.ca.gov">{{cite web |url=http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns/stsen/0800.htm |title=CA Secretary of State - General Election- State Senate District 8 - Districtwide |access-date=2007-10-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624192106/http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns//stsen/0800.htm |archive-date=June 24, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> With ] and ] having a high Democratic base Yee was elected on November 7, 2006.<ref name="vote.ss.ca.gov"/> Yee replaced ], who left office due to term limits.

Yee was suspended from the senate in 2014.<ref name="McGreevyLATimes03282014"/> Yee formerly served on the following Senate committees:<ref name="dist08.casen.govoffice.com">{{cite web|url=http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_LIST&SEC={961EC3F6-2749-4496-8936-F676D9BA4389} |title=Senator Leland Yee - Committee Membership |publisher=Dist08.casen.govoffice.com |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529183705/http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_LIST&SEC=%7B961EC3F6-2749-4496-8936-F676D9BA4389%7D |archive-date=May 29, 2010 |df=mdy}}</ref>
*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<ref name="McGreevyLATimes03282014"/> chaired the following Senate committees:<ref name="dist08.casen.govoffice.com"/>
*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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=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/|title=Ex-Calif. State Sen. Leland Yee, gun control champion, heading to prison for weapons trafficking|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2017-01-06}}</ref> In 2006 Yee was named to the Gun Violence Prevention Honor Roll by the ] 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 ].<ref name="LATimes03262014">Staff Writers. , '']'', March 26, 2014.</ref> In May 2012, together with ], Yee proposed legislation to ban any semi-automatic rifle that used a ] that makes the rifle a "fixed magazine rifle." 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sd08.senate.ca.gov/news/2012-05-21-yee-introduces-bill-close-loophole-assault-weapon-law |title=YEE INTRODUCES BILL TO CLOSE LOOPHOLE IN ASSAULT WEAPON LAW |date=May 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524135907/http://sd08.senate.ca.gov/news/2012-05-21-yee-introduces-bill-close-loophole-assault-weapon-law |archive-date=May 24, 2012 }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/05/20/cbs-5-story-inspires-new-legislation-to-ban-bullet-button/ | title=CBS 5 Report Inspires New Legislation To Ban 'Bullet Button' | date=May 20, 2012 | work=CBS San Francisco}}</ref>

====2007====
Yee had 11 bills signed into law in 2007.<ref name="govoffice1">{{cite web|url=http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={EEB24B66-76BE-4AB1-97B4-C99A9968387E} |title=Senator Leland Yee - 2007 Legislation |publisher=Dist08.casen.govoffice.com |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627161128/http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BEEB24B66-76BE-4AB1-97B4-C99A9968387E%7D |archive-date=June 27, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite web |author=Rob Rogers |url=http://www.marinij.com/ci_6363940 |title=State bill could break up roadside car lot sales - Marin Independent Journal |publisher=Marinij.com |access-date=August 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203092242/http://www.marinij.com/ci_6363940 |archive-date=February 3, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> SB 190, which brings more transparency to the compensation practices of administrators at the University of California and the California State University,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://democrats.sen.ca.gov/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC={3FCA7D16-2378-49E0-886D-685939CE9683}&DE={7647712C-440C-4F87-B677-013809AF63FF} |title=California Senate Majority Caucus - Senator Yee on SB 190: UC/CSU Transparency Bill |publisher=Democrats.sen.ca.gov |date=April 23, 2007 |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812114458/http://democrats.sen.ca.gov/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC=%7B3FCA7D16-2378-49E0-886D-685939CE9683%7D&DE=%7B7647712C-440C-4F87-B677-013809AF63FF%7D |archive-date=August 12, 2010 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> SB 523, which increases the quantity of child support payments collected in San Mateo County,<ref>{{cite web |author=Yee |url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0501-0550/sb_523_cfa_20070821_125458_asm_comm.html |title=SB 523 Senate Bill - Bill Analysis |publisher=Info.sen.ca.gov |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710053423/http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0501-0550/sb_523_cfa_20070821_125458_asm_comm.html |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cucfa.org/news/2007_may29.php |title=The Council of UC Faculty Associations |publisher=Cucfa.org |date=May 29, 2007 |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref>

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."<ref name="Leland Yee Zings Army over Video Game Recruiting Effort">{{cite web|url=http://gamepolitics.com/2007/04/12/breaking-yee-spanks-army-over-video-game-recruiting-efforts/ |title=Leland Yee Zings Army over Video Game Recruiting Effort |access-date=October 15, 2007 |date=January 10, 2007 |publisher=GamePolitics.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070916025129/http://gamepolitics.com/2007/04/12/breaking-yee-spanks-army-over-video-game-recruiting-efforts/ |archive-date=September 16, 2007 |df=mdy }}</ref>

On August 29, 2007, Yee again criticized the ESRB, this time for not disclosing what content was removed from '']'' to re-rate the game from an AO rating for violence to the ESRB Mature rating.<ref name="California's Leland Yee Demands Answers on Manhunt 2 Re-rate">{{cite web|url=http://gamepolitics.com/2007/08/27/breaking-californias-leland-yee-demands-answers-on-manhunt-2-re-rate/ |title=California's Leland Yee Demands Answers on Manhunt 2 Re-rate |access-date=October 15, 2007 |date=January 10, 2007 |publisher=GamePolitics.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011155139/http://gamepolitics.com/2007/08/27/breaking-californias-leland-yee-demands-answers-on-manhunt-2-re-rate/ |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |df=mdy }}</ref> Yee asked the ] to investigate the change in rating. In response, ESRB president ] stated the details for a product that has not yet been released will not be disclosed.<ref name="ESRB Refuses to Detail Manhunt 2 Re-rate">{{cite web |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/news/esrb-refuses-detail-manhunt-2-re-rate |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115055215/http://www.next-gen.biz/news/esrb-refuses-detail-manhunt-2-re-rate |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 15, 2013 |title=ESRB Refuses to Detail Manhunt 2 Re-rate - Edge Magazine |publisher=Next-gen.biz |date=August 28, 2007 |access-date=July 11, 2011 }}</ref>

====2008====
Yee had fourteen bills signed into law in 2008.<ref name="govoffice1"/> Among these bills, SB 697 prohibits balance billing of patients in the California's Healthy Families program,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/10694 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013132338/http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/10694/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 13, 2008 |title=Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Urgently Needed Legislation to Protect Consumers from Unfair Health Care Practices |publisher=Gov.ca.gov |access-date=August 13, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marinij.com/ci_7494816?source=most_viewed |title=Dispute over who pays for medical services - Marin Independent Journal |publisher=Marinij.com |date=November 17, 2007 |access-date=August 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203091249/http://www.marinij.com/ci_7494816?source=most_viewed |archive-date=February 3, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> SB 1217 allows public oversight of the state bar pilots commission,<ref name="asianjournal.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.asianjournal.com/community/community-news/3922-several-new-laws-to-take-effect-january-1.html |title=Several new laws to take effect January 1 |publisher=Asianjournal.com |date=December 16, 2009 |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218150723/http://asianjournal.com/community/community-news/3922-several-new-laws-to-take-effect-january-1.html |archive-date=February 18, 2010 }}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tenantstogether.org/article.php?id=711 |title=Tenants Together : Bill Approved to Stop Evictions of Domestic Violence Victims |publisher=Tenantstogether.org |date=May 6, 2009 |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201150515/http://tenantstogether.org/article.php?id=711 |archive-date=December 1, 2010}}</ref> SB 1370, which protects teachers from the retaliatory action of school officials as a result of student speech,<ref>{{cite web |author=Yee |url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_1351-1400/sb_1370_cfa_20080409_133510_sen_comm.html |title=SB 1370 Senate Bill - Bill Analysis |publisher=Info.sen.ca.gov |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013081251/http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_1351-1400/sb_1370_cfa_20080409_133510_sen_comm.html |archive-date=October 13, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite web|author=Yee |url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_1651-1700/sb_1696_bill_20080222_introduced.html |title=SB 1696 Senate Bill - INTRODUCED |publisher=Info.sen.ca.gov |date=February 22, 2008 |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706121902/http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_1651-1700/sb_1696_bill_20080222_introduced.html |archive-date=July 6, 2008 }}</ref> and SB 1419, which creates a double-fine zone on 19th and Van Ness Avenues—an area with a historically high pedestrian collision rate.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mitchell |first=Jeff |url=http://www.sacbee.com/2009/11/16/2327863/sf-streets-among-most-dangerous.html |title=S.F. streets among most dangerous for pedestrians - Sacramento Recreation and Places to Visit - Sacramento, Gold Country, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco &#124; Sacramento Bee |publisher=Sacbee.com |date=November 16, 2009 |access-date=August 13, 2010}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

Yee and Assemblyman ] of Los Angeles challenged the legality of the ]'s English language policy, resulting in a revision of policy by the end of 2008.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914141442/http://www.asianweek.com/2008/09/05/lieu-and-yee-help-rescind-lpga-english-language-policy-penalties/ |date=September 14, 2008}}. ]. Retrieved on September 8, 2008.</ref> Yee introduced ], prohibiting businesses from denying services to customers that don't speak English (a modification of the ]).<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_242&sess=CUR&house=B&site=sen
|title=Documents associated with SB 242 in the Session
|author=Official California Legislative Information
|access-date=August 26, 2009
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831160252/http://info.sen.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_242&sess=CUR&house=B&site=sen
|archive-date=August 31, 2009}}</ref> in California.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0201-0250/sb_242_bill_20090224_introduced.html
|title=BILL NUMBER: SB 242 INTRODUCED
|author=Senator Yee
|access-date=August 26, 2009
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420072553/http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0201-0250/sb_242_bill_20090224_introduced.html
|archive-date=April 20, 2009}}</ref> The bill was vetoed by Governor ] on October 11, 2009.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}

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 ] led the ''New York Times'' to predict that California's healthcare bill would be effectively killed.<ref name="California Governor's Plan for Health Care in Trouble">{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/us/28healthcare.html |title= California Governor's Plan for Health Care in Trouble |access-date=January 28, 2008|last= McKinley|first= Jesse|date=January 28, 2008 |work= The New York Times}}</ref>

====2009====
Yee had 9 bills signed into law in 2009.<ref name="mercurynews.com">{{cite web|author=Pacifica Tribune |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/pacifica-news/ci_15303890 |title=State Senator Leland Yee guest speaker at Pacifica Democrats' meeting - San Jose Mercury News |work=Mercurynews.com |date=June 17, 2010 |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref name="mercurynews.com"/>

On July 22, 2009, Yee filed an ] 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.".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/vertical/Sites/%7BBF15804D-042F-4DCF-8803-86441E95CD9F%7D/uploads/%7BF338F527-8D2E-4B9B-8A2F-B6D865D54A31%7D.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814172101/http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/vertical/Sites/%7BBF15804D-042F-4DCF-8803-86441E95CD9F%7D/uploads/%7BF338F527-8D2E-4B9B-8A2F-B6D865D54A31%7D.PDF |archive-date=August 14, 2011 |title=On petition for a writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit |access-date=February 10, 2013}}</ref> 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<ref>{{cite web|last=Kuchera |first=Ben |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/07/sensationalist-legal-brief-aims-to-revive-ca-game-law.ars |title=Sensationalist legal brief aims to revive CA game law |publisher=Arstechnica.com |date=July 23, 2009 |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref>

====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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kapur |first=Sahil |url=http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0530/california-disturbing-texas-curriculum/ |title=California passes bill to counteract 'disturbing' Texas curriculum |publisher=Raw Story |date=May 30, 2010 |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Court-right-to-restrict-juvenile-life-sentences-3263683.php | title=MAXIMUM INSECURITY / California's prison system produces bizarre and dangerous results harmful to inmates and public | date=May 18, 2010 | work=The San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/06/senate-rejects-limits-on-phone-books.html | title=PolitiCal | date=June 4, 2010 | work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

The remainder of Yee's bill package focuses on consumer protection,<ref name="kron4.com">{{cite web |url=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 |title=Bay Area Lawmakers Behind Some of the Newest Statutes to Take Effect |publisher=Kron4.com |date=December 26, 2009 |access-date=August 13, 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> child safety,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/03/15/ca-bills-push-rules-ski-snowboard-industry/ |title=CA bills push rules for ski, snowboard industry &#124; 89.3 KPCC |publisher=Scpr.org |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622014143/http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/03/15/ca-bills-push-rules-ski-snowboard-industry/ |archive-date=June 22, 2011 }}</ref> government transparency,<ref name="kron4.com"/> and domestic violence prevention<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=122136&title=Hike%20in%20fee%20might%20fund%20DV%20shelters&eddate=01/02/2010%2002:09:00 |title=Hike in fee might fund DV shelters |publisher=Smdailyjournal.com |date=January 2, 2010 |access-date=July 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716024618/http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=122136&title=Hike%20in%20fee%20might%20fund%20DV%20shelters&eddate=01%2F02%2F2010%2002%3A09%3A00 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> None of his bills have been signed into law this year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={DB36A2CD-223B-4DD3-82AF-BC42FA0D67DE} |title=Senator Leland Yee, Ph.D. - 2010 Legislation |publisher=Dist08.casen.govoffice.com |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627154621/http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BDB36A2CD-223B-4DD3-82AF-BC42FA0D67DE%7D |archive-date=June 27, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref> 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 ] to his district to hold daily and evening meetings to better serve his constituents.<ref>{{cite news|last=Marinucci |first=Carla |url=http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/California-lawmakers-rack-up-gasoline-tabs-2461562.php |title=California lawmakers rack up gasoline tabs |newspaper=] |date=January 25, 2011 |access-date=January 29, 2011 |quote=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. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061350/http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/California-lawmakers-rack-up-gasoline-tabs-2461562.php |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |df=mdy}}</ref>

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 ] Governor ] $75,000 to speak at the school's 50th anniversary celebration on June 25.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/08/palin-stanislaus-speech-l_n_529629.html |title=Palin Stanislaus Speech: Leland Yee Calls For Investigation, Proposes New Requirements |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=April 14, 2010 |access-date=August 13, 2010}}{{dead link|date=November 2024}}</ref> The foundation refused to divulge any information about the fees paid to Palin.<ref name="Los Angeles Times">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-apr-13-la-me-calstate13-2010apr13-story.html |title=Palin speech at Cal State campus draws attention to foundations linked to universities - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=April 13, 2010 |access-date=August 13, 2010 | first=Carla | last=Rivera}}</ref>

In response, Yee introduced SB 330, which would require groups to abide by California's Public Records Act.<ref name="Los Angeles Times"/> On May 28, 2010, the '']'' 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-may-28-la-me-calstate-palin-20100528-story.html |title=Palin to get $75,000 for Cal State Stanislaus speech - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=May 28, 2010 |access-date=August 13, 2010 | first=Carla | last=Rivera}}</ref> 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&nbsp;... by taking this money and donating it back to the foundation."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010/may/28/palin-speaking-fee-uncovered/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110711101559/http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010/may/28/palin-speaking-fee-uncovered/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 11, 2011 |title=Palin speaking fee uncovered &#124; St. Louis Globe-Democrat |publisher=Globe-democrat.com |date=May 28, 2010 |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref> The fundraising gala raised a then record $200,000 profit for the Cal State Stanislaus Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.csustan.edu/news/news_story_full.aspx?WNTNEWS_ID=4201&WNTNEWSDir=Asc&WNTNEWSPageSize=10 |title=CSU Stanislaus Foundation hosts largest fundraising event in university's history; CSU Stanislaus Foundation |publisher=www.csustan.edu |date=June 25, 2010 |access-date=June 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328163726/http://apps.csustan.edu/news/news_story_full.aspx?WNTNEWS_ID=4201&WNTNEWSDir=Asc&WNTNEWSPageSize=10 |archive-date=March 28, 2014}}</ref>

====2011====
California State Assemblyman ] 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 '']'', which Assemblyman Fong describes as: ''"Anything that is unhealthy, that the culture is practicing, we should stop doing it. We used to ] and that was unhealthy for the woman"''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a22/ |title=Assemblymember Paul Fong Representing the 22nd Assembly District |publisher=Democrats.assembly.ca.gov |access-date=July 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312171158/http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a22/ |archive-date=March 12, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> 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 ] who states that: ''"shark fin soup is about as cultural as bound feet"'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Boychuk |first=Ben |url=http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/09/3459963/head-to-head-to-protect-sharks.html |title=Head to Head: To protect sharks, should state ban the sale or possession of shark fins? - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial &#124; Sacramento Bee |publisher=Sacbee.com |date=March 9, 2011 |access-date=July 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312111557/http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/09/3459963/head-to-head-to-protect-sharks.html |archive-date=March 12, 2011 }}</ref> 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"''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sfcitizen.com/blog/2011/02/14/senator-leland-yee-throws-down-goes-to-chinatown-supports-a-nuanced-approach-to-shark-fin-soup/ |title=Senator Leland Yee Throws Down: Goes to Chinatown, Supports a Nuanced Approach to Shark Fin Soup « San Francisco Citizen |publisher=Sfcitizen.com |date=February 14, 2011 |access-date=July 11, 2011}}</ref>
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 ] mocked Chinese president ] during his visit to the ] 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 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."<ref name=abcnews>{{cite news
|title = Rush Limbaugh Mocks Chinese President Hu Jintao
|url = http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/01/rush-limbaugh-mocks-chinese-president-hu-jintao.html
|newspaper = ABC News
|date = January 20, 2011
|access-date = January 21, 2011
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110121175042/http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/01/rush-limbaugh-mocks-chinese-president-hu-jintao.html
|archive-date = January 21, 2011
|df = mdy-all}}</ref> He demanded an apology from Limbaugh for what he and others view as racist and derogatory remarks. He also organized with civil rights groups&mdash;including ], ] and the ]&mdash;to boycott companies that advertise on ].<ref>{{cite news
|title=Asian-American lawmakers demand Limbaugh apology
|first=Judy
|last=Lin
|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/asian-american-lawmakers-demand-818553.html
|newspaper=]
|agency=Associated Press
|date=January 28, 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131170403/http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/asian-american-lawmakers-demand-818553.html
|archive-date=January 31, 2011
|access-date=January 28, 2011
|url-status=dead
|df=mdy}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| title = Asian-American officials seek Limbaugh apology
| url = https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-01-28-asian-americans-limbaugh_N.htm
| newspaper= ]
| agency = Associated Press
| date = January 28, 2011
| access-date = January 28, 2011}}</ref> Yee states he has received threatening messages and also received a fax from an unknown sender who made racist comments and labeling him a ].<ref>{{cite news
|title=Senator Yee says racist statements, death threats need to stop
|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17216323?nclick_check=1
|work=MercuryNews.com
|agency=Bay City News Service
|publisher=]
|date=January 27, 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119075221/http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17216323?nclick_check=1
|archive-date=January 19, 2012
|access-date=January 28, 2011
|url-status=dead
|df=mdy}}</ref>

====2014====
On January 30, 2014, Yee voted in favor of ].<ref name=SCA5>{{cite web|url=http://legiscan.com/CA/rollcall/SCA5/id/313934|title=Bill documents|access-date=January 30, 2014}}</ref> The proposed bill asked California voters to repeal provisions of ] 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 ] and ] 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."<ref name=Pasadenaweekly> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314030538/http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/a_giant_awakens/12902/ |date=March 14, 2014 }} March 12, 2014</ref>

===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, ], 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.<ref>
{{Cite news|author=US District court| title = Affidavit of Special Agent Emmanuel V. Pascua in Support of Complaint| work = FBI| access-date = March 26, 2014| date = March 26, 2014| url = http://www.sfgate.com/file/757/757-complaint_affidavit_14-70421-nc.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0458-3035| last = Vives| first = Ruben|author2=Phil Willon
| title = Sen. Leland Yee, S.F. Chinatown figure arrested in corruption raids| work = Los Angeles Times| access-date = March 26, 2014
| date = March 26, 2014| url = https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-yee-sf-crime-figure-arrested-corruption-raids-fbi-20140326,0,6304631.story#axzz2x6TsPdZO}}</ref> 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 ] 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."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/excerpts-from-fbi-california-corruption-case-docs/2014/03/26/83184eb0-b548-11e3-bab2-b9602293021d_story.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20140328165734/http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/excerpts-from-fbi-california-corruption-case-docs/2014/03/26/83184eb0-b548-11e3-bab2-b9602293021d_story.html |title=Excerpts from FBI California corruption case docs | url-status=dead | archive-date=2014-03-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/crime-law/excerpts-state-sen-yee-corruption-case-docs/nfMFQ/ |title=Excerpts from State Sen. Yee corruption case docs &#124; www.ktvu.com |access-date=2014-03-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328212319/http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/crime-law/excerpts-state-sen-yee-corruption-case-docs/nfMFQ/ |archive-date=March 28, 2014 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Elias-arrest>{{cite news|last=Elias|first=Paul|title=CALIFORNIA LAWMAKER FACES GUN, CORRUPTION CHARGES|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/fbi-california-state-sen-leland-yee-arrested|access-date=March 27, 2014|newspaper=Associated Press|date=March 26, 2014}}</ref><ref name=Mason-arrest>{{cite news|last=Mason|first=Melanie|title=Leland Yee indictment may mark abrupt end to his political career|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-yee-indictment-political-career-20140327,0,4920941.story|access-date=March 27, 2014|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name=Dudnick-arrest>{{cite news|last=Dudnick|first=Laura|title=State Sen. Leland Yee arrest casts light on complex corruption case|url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/sf-state-sen-leland-yee-arrested-on-bribery-corruption-charges/Content?oid=2745536|access-date=March 27, 2014|newspaper=San Francisco Examiner|date=March 26, 2014}}</ref> He was released on $500,000 bail.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/03/31/yee/|title=Leland Yee Remains Free on 0,000 Bail After Court Hearing - News Fix - KQED News|date=March 31, 2014 |access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref>

The FBI raided Yee's office at the California State Capitol and the San Francisco Chinatown office of the ] fraternal organization. This was linked to the arrest, on March 26, 2014, of ].<ref name="kcra_arrest">{{cite web|url=http://www.kcra.com/news/fbi-conducting-multiple-raids-in-norcal/25172542 |title=Report: Sen. Leland Yee arrested on bribery, corruption charges |publisher=krca.com |access-date=March 26, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_25423273/bay-area-fbi-serving-multiple-arrest-search-warrants |title=Report: State Sen. Leland Yee indicted for public corruption in major FBI operation |work=mercurynews.com |date=March 26, 2014 |access-date=March 26, 2014}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cadelago|first1=Christopher|last2=Siders|first2=David|last3=Miller|first3=Jim|title=Sen. Yee faces racketeering charge in new indictment|url=http://www.sacbee.com/2014/07/25/6583124/sen-yee-faces-racketeering-charge.html|access-date=July 26, 2014|publisher=Sacramento Bee|date=July 25, 2014}}</ref>

On July 1, 2015, Yee pled guilty to charges of racketeering.<ref>, '']'', July 1, 2015.</ref> He was sentenced to 5 years in prison on February 24, 2016,<ref name=":0" /> and was released in June 2020.<ref name =sfchron/>

===Mayoral and secretary of State campaigns===
On November 10, 2010, Yee filed his candidacy for the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sfappeal.com/news/2010/11/state-sen-leland-yee-joins-sf-mayors-race.php|title=State Sen. Leland Yee Joins SF Mayor's Race |publisher=Dist08.casen.govoffice.com |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref> Yee placed fifth in the nonpartisan primary election.

In November 2012, Yee declared that he would run for ] in 2014.<ref>Marisa Lagos (November 25, 2012) San Francisco Gate. Retrieved March 27, 2014</ref> 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.<ref>Katie Marzulo (March 27, 2014) ABC - KGOTV San Francisco. Retrieved March 27, 2014</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://graphics.latimes.com/calif-primary-election-results-2014/|title=California 2014 primary election complete results|date=June 3, 2014 |access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref>

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 ]'s ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/san-francisco/2/24th-Avenue-33.html|title=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)|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfbg.com/print/2011/08/30/real-leland-yee|title=San Francisco Bay Guardian - Uh oh}}</ref> but turned himself in to the U.S. Marshal's Service on March 25, 2016, to serve a five-year federal prison sentence.<ref name=":0"/>

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 ] engineer, was arrested and charged.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yee calls death threat over gun measures explicit and chilling|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2013-feb-14-la-me-pc-yee-death-threat-20130214-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 14, 2013|first=Maria|last=La Ganga}}</ref><ref name="Death threat">{{cite news|last=Knowles|first=David|title=Man threatens to assassinate California lawmaker over his support of tighter gun laws|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/man-threatens-kill-official-stop-gun-control-article-1.1287752|newspaper=NY Daily News|date=March 13, 2013|location=New York}}</ref> Basham later pleaded no contest to the charges,<ref name="Death threat plea deal">{{cite news|last=McGreevey|first=Patrick|title=Man pleads to charges after threatening senator over gun control bill|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-man-pleads-guilty-after-threatening-senator-over-gun-control-bill-20131028-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207215120/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/oct/28/local/la-me-pc-man-pleads-guilty-after-threatening-senator-over-gun-control-bill-20131028|url-status=live|archive-date=December 7, 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=October 28, 2013}}</ref> and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.<ref>, NBC Bay Area, December 5, 2014.</ref>

==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) <ref name="asianjournal.com"/> and the California Faculty Association<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asianjournal.com/data/PDF/2010.../2010_05_07_SF_B%206.pdf |title=Data |website=Asian Journal |access-date=August 13, 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={CDF69DB5-7977-4494-9AFB-DAF8CEE64FC5} |title=Senator Leland Yee - Awards and Honors |publisher=Dist08.casen.govoffice.com |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627154615/http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BCDF69DB5-7977-4494-9AFB-DAF8CEE64FC5%7D |archive-date=June 27, 2010 |df=mdy}}</ref>

Yee has also been awarded the following awards:

*Gun Violence Prevention Honor Roll by the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sd08.senate.ca.gov/news/2006-08-04-brady-campaign-honor-yee-violence-prevention |title=Brady Campaign to Honor Yee for Violence Prevention &#124; Senator Leland Yee, Ph.D. |access-date=2014-03-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329004908/http://sd08.senate.ca.gov/news/2006-08-04-brady-campaign-honor-yee-violence-prevention |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
*Freedom of Information Award by the ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnpa.com/full_story.cfm?id=1621 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716052221/http://www.cnpa.com/full_story.cfm?id=1621 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |title=CNPA seeks nominees for FOI Award |publisher=Cnpa.com |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref>
*Modern Day Abolitionist Award by the San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking<ref>{{cite web|author=PDT |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/yee-to-be-honored-for-work-against-human-trafficking/Content?oid=2136040 |title=Yee to be honored for work against human trafficking &#124; San Francisco Examiner |publisher=Sfexaminer.com |date=February 7, 2010 |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref>
*Building a State of Equality by ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calsilc.org/SILC_Quarterly_Meeting_March_2009/9-Leeland_Yee_biography.doc|title=Biography of State Senator Leland Yee - California State Independent Living Council|access-date=April 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407055451/http://www.calsilc.org/SILC_Quarterly_Meeting_March_2009/9-Leeland_Yee_biography.doc|archive-date=April 7, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
*Distinguished Service to Journalism Education Award by the Journalism Association of Community Colleges<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/?q=node/7220 |title=Report Shows 70% of California Public Universities Violate Speech Laws |publisher=California Progress Report |date=December 11, 2009 |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref>
*Service Award by Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse of San Mateo County<ref>{{cite web |author=PDT |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Yee-honored-for-work-saving-domestic-violence-shelters-93048254.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110716050528/http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Yee-honored-for-work-saving-domestic-violence-shelters-93048254.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |title=Yee honored for work saving domestic violence shelters &#124; San Francisco Examiner |publisher=Sfexaminer.com |date=May 7, 2010 |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref>
*Scholastic Journalism Award by the Journalism Education Association<ref name="asianjournal.com"/>
*Beacon Award by the ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2009/10/first-amendment-coalition-names-free-speech-award-winners-and-one-loser/ |title=FAC names free speech award winners–and one loser |publisher=First Amendment Coalition |date=October 22, 2009 |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723191831/http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2009/10/first-amendment-coalition-names-free-speech-award-winners-and-one-loser/ |archive-date=July 23, 2010 }}</ref>
*Leadership Award from the California Animal Association<ref name="asianjournal.com"/>
*Special Friend of Children Award by the ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasponline.org/press/06awards.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-08-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717182739/http://www.nasponline.org/press/06awards.pdf |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
*Public Official Award by the Society of Professional Journalists<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sfpublicpress.org/blog/2010-02/sf-public-press-wins-local-journalism-award |title=wins local journalism award |date=February 16, 2010 |publisher=SF Public Press |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area|SF From Marin Highlands3.jpg}} {{Portalbar|Biography|San Francisco Bay Area}}
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==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
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Latest revision as of 11:54, 26 December 2024

American criminal and former Democratic California State Senator

Leland Yee
Yee in 2010
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
BornYu Yin Liang
c. 1955 (aged c. 69)
Toisan, Guangdong, China
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMaxine Yee
Education
Websitedist08.casen.govoffice.com
www.lelandyee.com
Criminal statusReleased
Conviction(s)Racketeering
Criminal charge
PenaltyFive years in federal prison
Chinese name
Chinese
Hanyu PinyinYú Yìn Liáng
JyutpingJyu Jan Loeng

Leland Yin Yee (Chinese: 余胤良; Jyutping: jyu4 jan6 loeng4; pinyin: Yú Yìnliáng; born c. 1955) 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.

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.

In 2015, Yee pleaded guilty to felony racketeering charges for money laundering, political corruption, arms trafficking, and bribery. 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.

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. 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. On February 24, 2016, Yee was sentenced to five years in federal prison, and was released on June 26, 2020.

Early life and education

Leland Yee immigrated to San Francisco, California from his birthplace of Taishan, 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.

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.

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.

San Francisco School Board

Yee as member of SF Board of Supervisors. Alongside him is then fellow board member Gavin Newsom

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.

1992

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

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.

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.

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.

2003 – 2005

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

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

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

Following news of the "Hot Coffee mod" in Rockstar North's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Yee claimed that the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) knew about it in advance and criticized them for not rating the game "adults only". 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. 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. The adverse ruling required the state to pay $324,840 to the ESA in legal fees. (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. Notable bills included AB 1969, which increases renewable energy production in the state, AB 2581, which aims to protect student free speech and prohibit school administrators from censoring school newspapers and broadcast journalism, AB 409, which establishes tighter controls and higher health standards for nail salons, and AB 1207, which adds sexual orientation to the list of protections in the Code of Fair Political Practices.

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, 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. With San Francisco and San Mateo County having a high Democratic base Yee was elected on November 7, 2006. Yee replaced Jackie Speier, who left office due to term limits.

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

  • 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 chaired the following Senate committees:

  • 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. 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. 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." 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."

2007

Yee had 11 bills signed into law in 2007. 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, SB 190, which brings more transparency to the compensation practices of administrators at the University of California and the California State University, SB 523, which increases the quantity of child support payments collected in San Mateo County, 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."

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."

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. 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.

2008

Yee had fourteen bills signed into law in 2008. Among these bills, SB 697 prohibits balance billing of patients in the California's Healthy Families program, SB 1217 allows public oversight of the state bar pilots commission, 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, SB 1370, which protects teachers from the retaliatory action of school officials as a result of student speech, 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, and SB 1419, which creates a double-fine zone on 19th and Van Ness Avenues—an area with a historically high pedestrian collision rate.

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. Yee introduced SB 242, prohibiting businesses from denying services to customers that don't speak English (a modification of the Unruh Civil Rights Act). in California. The bill was vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on October 11, 2009.

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.

2009

Yee had 9 bills signed into law in 2009. 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.

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.". 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

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. 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. 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.

The remainder of Yee's bill package focuses on consumer protection, child safety, government transparency, and domestic violence prevention None of his bills have been signed into law this year. 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.

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. The foundation refused to divulge any information about the fees paid to Palin.

In response, Yee introduced SB 330, which would require groups to abide by California's Public Records Act. 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. 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." The fundraising gala raised a then record $200,000 profit for the Cal State Stanislaus Foundation.

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". 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", 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". 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." 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. 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.

2014

On January 30, 2014, Yee voted in favor of California Senate Constitutional Amendment 5. 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."

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. 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." 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. He was released on $500,000 bail.

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.

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.

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

Mayoral and secretary of State campaigns

On November 10, 2010, Yee filed his candidacy for the 2011 San Francisco mayoral election. 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. 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. 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.

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, but turned himself in to the U.S. Marshal's Service on March 25, 2016, to serve a five-year federal prison sentence.

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. Basham later pleaded no contest to the charges, and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

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) and the California Faculty Association among others.

Yee has also been awarded the following awards:

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

See also

Portals:

References

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External links

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

1997–2002
Succeeded byFiona Ma
Preceded by Speaker pro tempore of the California Assembly
2003-2006
Succeeded bySally J. Lieber
California Senate
Preceded byJackie Speier State Senator, 8th District
2006-2014
Succeeded byVacant
    Presidential Medal of Merit (Philippines) recipients    
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