TrevorAJAM

Hi, everyone. Thanks for joining me in this Reddit AMA. I'm happy to discuss the reporting behind the story Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit ran last night about state Sen. Ronald Calderon, who is the subject of an FBI sting operation in which undercover agents posed as independent movie executives.

In California, a state senator has tremendous influence over policy. It's also important to note that California is unique, given the size of its economy. On its own, California has the eighth-largest economy in the world. That's why we believed a public corruption case of a California state senator was so significant and had national resonance.

Well, to be frank, I don't agree with the premise of your question that Al Jazeera is anti-Semitic. I think Al Jazeera has an admirable track record of covering stories around the world, with a particular emphasis in telling the stories of people left behind, displaced or otherwise disadvantaged.

Hey, Ryan. I'm a fan of your work. Thanks for joining me here. Cases like these can be delayed for a variety reasons. Sometimes, the FBI is investigating other people based on information obtained through searches, such as the one that occurred at Calderon's office. Other times, there are disputes between the FBI and prosecutors in the U.S. attorney's office. Or it's possible that the grand jury process is just taking a long time. We did ask the FBI to comment before our story, and specifically asked if the Calderon case had been referred for prosecution. The FBI in Washington and Los Angeles declined to comment.

I'd like to open this question up to others: What can individual voters do to curb political corruption?