Gary Jones, the newly-elected President of the United Auto Workers (UAW), addresses the 37th UAW Constitutional Convention June14, 2018 at Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan.
Bill Pugliano | Getty Images
United Auto Workers' President Gary Jones will take a leave of absence effective Sunday after a vote by the union's executive board, amid a widening federal corruption probe into the union.
"The UAW is fighting tooth and nail to ensure our members have a brighter future. I do not want anything to distract from the mission. I want to do what's best for the members of this great union," Jones said Saturday.
The union has been rocked by a federal corruption amid high stakes labor contract negotiations with General Motors and Ford. IRS and FBI agents raided Jones' home in August, one of several targets in a multi-state raid.
Jones has not been charged with any crimes. Twelve people have been charged in the corruption investigation, including Edward Robinson, a union official with ties to Jones.
Robinson has been accused of conspiring with union leaders to "embezzle, steal, and unlawfully and willfully abstract" more than $1.5 million from the union for personal gain, according to a criminal filing.
CNBC's Mike Wayland contributed to this report.