Anti-video game violence legislator charged with bribery and corruption

Leland Yee

Leland Yee, who is a California state senator and vocal advocate against violence in video games, has been arrested on charges of bribery and corruption.

Yee made headline in 2005 for sponsoring a bill that would make it a criminal offense to have violence in video games. The bill was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger but not long after there was an uproar concerning the decision and the Entertainment Merchants Association, as well as the Entertainment Software Association, filed a lawsuit claiming that the law was “an unconstitutional prior restraint of speech.”

In 2011, the law was overturned by a federal district court judge agreed and then a federal appellate court affirmed it as well. It didn’t end until after Californa appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which  also ruled in favor of the EMA, with a vote of 7-2.

“This is all about their lust for violence and the industry’s lust for money. This is a billion-dollar industry. This is about their self-interest.” Yee said before later “apologizing” for the comment.

So then you it may come as somewhat of a shocker that Yee has been arrested for bribery and corruption. Yee was arrested along with several others, and more details are sure to follow as events unfold.

[via Polygon, NBC Bay Area]

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