State Senator Leland Yee pleaded not guilty to new charge

SAN FRANCISCO -- State Senator Leland Yee,(D)San Francisco, appeared in federal court Thursday morning and pleaded not guilty to a new charge of racketeering.

Yee also pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges of accepting and soliciting bribes in exchange for help in Sacramento. The counts were included in a new indictment issued last week.

It also alleges that Yee offered to help pass legislation making it harder for professional football players to obtain workers compensation in California, in exchange for campaign contributions from an unidentified NFL owner.

The new racketeering charge accuses Yee of orchestrating a wide-range of criminal activity. The indictment also includes corruption charges previously denied by Yee.

The California Senate has suspended Yee but he continues to get paid. He could face 20 years in prison if convicted.