Indeed, while the media have fixated on the hypocrisy of a gun-control advocate--Yee sponsored legislation against detachable magazines, for example--alleged involvement in gun smuggling, few reports delve into the kind of weapons with which Yee was allegedly involved.
The FBI affidavit describes conversations about shipments of automatic weapons and talk of heavier weapons, including shoulder-fired missiles and artillery.
One arms trafficker Yee allegedly discussed sourced weapons from Russia. Another trafficker, in an alleged meeting with Sen. Yee, political consultant Keith Jackson, and the FBI informant on March 11, 2014, allegedly discussed arms to be obtained from the Philippines. The affidavit claims the arms trafficker claimed personal relationships with Islamic rebels in the Philippines, though the weapons were supposedly to be obtained from sources inside the Philippine military.
Throughout the document, a portrait emerges of a politician who is not only allegedly cavalier about campaign finance limits but who allegedly associates with violent criminals and drug traffickers.
@gabrielmalor @FakeSamRosado This was the best Yee find yet—> https://t.co/gdZQzw9t7q h/t @JohnEkdahl
— DC Dude (@DCDude1776) March 27, 2014◼ Hypocrisy overload: Tweets from gun control advocate Leland Yee, charged with arms trafficking - TWITCHY
About to go on @kgoradio to discuss my bill to close loophole in assault weapon law. #SB249 #CAGov #CaLeg
— Leland Yee (@LelandYee) May 22, 2012Once again @NRA uses lies & distortion to try stopping commonsense #GunControl bill http://t.co/xOIPQzl2 Time to stop mass reloading in #CA.
— Leland Yee (@LelandYee) August 3, 2012Thank you @KamalaHarris for supporting #SB249. Together we will strengthen #CA assault weapon law & help protect public http://t.co/J4VSrEOc
— Leland Yee (@LelandYee) August 4, 2012The lesson here is that we need the 2nd Amendment to protect ourselves from the likes of Senator @LelandYee (D-CA) and his customers.
— Jimmy (@JimmyPrinceton) March 27, 2014◼ California Democrat And Gun Control Advocate Charged With Arms Trafficking - Forbes
◼ Anti-NRA California Democrat Indicted on Gun Trafficking Charges - MEDIAITE
Once known in the Golden State as a savvy political operator and backroom dealer, Yee is now accused of associating with notorious felons and accepting campaign funding in exchange for favors, including the facilitation of international arms trades.
Included in the charges in the 100-page indictment against Yee is the allegation that the state senator consorted with an FBI agent who posed as an Italian mobster and helped him to set up a deal to smuggle everything from small arms to missile launchers out of the Philippines.
Yee’s close associate, the former president of San Francisco’s school board, is also named in the indictment and is accused of murder-for-hire.
