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State Senate Leader Calls For Leland Yee To Resign Over Corruption Indictments

SACRAMENTO (CBS / AP) -- The Democratic leader of the state Senate is calling on Sen. Leland Yee to resign after being indicted on federal corruption and firearms charges.

At a news conference Wednesday, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento warned that fellow Democrats will immediately suspend the San Francisco Democrat unless he steps down.

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The warning comes hours after Yee was arrested and appeared in federal court.

An affidavit unsealed Wednesday accuses Yee of accepting tens of thousands of dollars to peddle state influence and conspiring to illegally import firearms.

Steinberg says the allegations are shocking and create "a huge cloud" over the Senate. Yee is the third Senate Democrat embroiled in criminal charges this year, including corruption and voter fraud.

Steinberg says their actions do not reflect on other senators.

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