U.S. online gambling proponent resigns office

California State Senator Roderick Wright (62) has ended his almost 20-year political career following sentence handed down by a Los Angeles judge convicting him of felony perjury and voting fraud charges.

Los Angeles County prosecutors claimed Wright had misled voters by pretending to live in the district he represents when he ran for the Senate in 2008, a requirement under California legislation.

State Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy ended the four year legal battle when she placed Wright on felony probation for three years, barred him from holding elective office again, ordered him to complete 1500 hours of community service and serve 90 days in county jail.

Incoming Senate leader Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) said in a statement: “Today is a sad day for both my friend and for California. Sen. Wright’s prosecution has been unfortunate and, in many ways, unfair. At best, this is an ambiguous law and, in this case, its application has been both arbitrary and selective. But today, Sen. Wright did the right thing for his community and the Senate by resigning from office.”

Wright had served in the legislature, in both the Assembly and Senate, since 1996.  He has been a strong advocate of the introduction of online poker and sports betting in California State, drafting several bills that include SB 51 and SB 190 (see previous reports).

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