Calderon indictment
U.S. Atty. Andre Birotte Jr., center, speaks during a news conference Friday to announce charges in a case involving state Sen. Ronald S. Calderon. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times / February 21, 2014)
February 25, 2014, 6:00 a.m.
State Sen. Ronald S. Calderon, indicted for allegedly taking $100,000 in bribes, will not make any decisions on whether to take a leave of absence or resign until he reviews the evidence against him, his attorney said.
Calderon, 56, pleaded not guilty in federal court Monday afternoon. He is facing  24 counts of fraud, wire fraud, honest services fraud, bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering and aiding in the filing of false tax returns.
Federal authorities allege that Calderon (D-Montebello) took the bribes from a Long Beach hospital official, as well as people connected to what he believed was a Hollywood studio. In fact, the studio was an FBI front and the business associates were FBI agents. 
"This today is just the first step in a long process to seek justice against corrupt politicians," Assistant U.S. Atty. Mack Jenkins said. 
Senate leaders said Monday they will give Calderon one week, until March 3, to either take a leave of absence or resign, after which he will face a possible Senate vote to suspend him from office.
“I think it is fair that we give Sen. Calderon a chance to consider the request we made” last Friday, said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento). “We are being very deliberative.”
Senate Republican leader Bob Huff of Diamond Bar said he is willing to go along with the Democrats' move to give Calderon more time, even though some Republicans are getting impatient to act on both Calderon and Sen. Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood), who was convicted last month of eight felonies, including perjury and voter fraud.
Calderon's attorney, Mark Geragos, said he has not received any discovery from the prosecution, and he expects it will take "at least a week" before he receives any.
Once they review the evidence and the strength of the case, Calderon will evaluate how much of his time is needed and decide whether to take a leave or resign, Geragos said.
Geragos said last week that Calderon welcomes "the opportunity to disprove these allegations in a