Federal prosecutors face risks in trying former President Donald Trump in Florida, where federal jurors have a history of acquitting elected officials accused of wrongdoing. Several local mayors in unrelated, separate trials had previously been acquitted on federal charges. In May, a federal jury in Tallahassee acquitted Democratic former gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum of lying to the FBI and deadlocked on other charges. Florida's political dynamics can influence a case, and the jury pool is made up of the people who voted for those people.
Federal prosecutors have dropped all corruption charges against Andrew Gillum, the former Democratic nominee for Florida governor who lost to Ron DeSantis in 2018. Gillum was acquitted on one count of lying to the FBI but the jury failed to reach a verdict on 17 counts of wire fraud and a wire fraud conspiracy count. The prosecution filed a motion to dismiss the remaining charges against Gillum and his co-defendant. Gillum's defense attorneys said their client can now "resume his life and public service."
Federal prosecutors have requested the dismissal of all remaining corruption charges against former Tallahassee Mayor and 2018 Democratic nominee for Florida governor, Andrew Gillum. Gillum was acquitted of lying to the FBI earlier this month but could not reach a verdict on more than a dozen other counts, including conspiracy and wire fraud. Prosecutors had alleged that Gillum and his co-defendant diverted tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for personal use. Gillum has maintained his innocence and argued that the charges were politically motivated.
Federal prosecutors have moved to drop all charges against former Tallahassee mayor and Democratic nominee for Florida governor, Andrew Gillum, and his long-time associate and co-defendant Sharon Lettman-Hicks. Gillum was acquitted of lying to the FBI and jurors deadlocked on other charges. The charges were related to a scheme where Gillum allegedly illegally solicited campaign contributions and promised political favors in exchange for political support. Gillum's legal team thanked the jury and said he can now resume his life and public service. Gillum was a rising Democratic star who narrowly lost to Republican Ron DeSantis in the 2018 governor’s race.
Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to dismiss the remaining corruption charges against Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee for Florida governor in 2018, after a jury deadlocked on all but one count following a trial earlier this month. Jurors acquitted Gillum of lying to the FBI but could not reach a verdict on more than a dozen fraud and conspiracy charges contending Gillum and his co-defendant diverted tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for his personal use.
Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss charges against former Tallahassee mayor and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum and his political mentor Sharon Lettman-Hicks in the corruption case against them. The move came after jurors overwhelmingly favored acquitting the two and urged prosecutors to drop the case. The investigation led to prison time and guilty pleas in 2019 from former Mayor and City Commissioner Scott Maddox and his aide, Paige Carter-Smith, and guilty verdicts against their co-defendant, developer John “J.T.” Burnette, at the end of his 2021 trial.
Former Florida gubernatorial candidate and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum was found not guilty of lying to the FBI on Thursday by a federal jury, but a mistrial was declared for the other 18 counts against him and co-defendant Sharon Lettman-Hicks. Gillum was indicted last year on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and making false statements. The jury reached the verdict on the charge of lying to the FBI after deliberating for five days and more than 30 hours. Gillum was accused of promising political favors to those who financially supported him and engaging in a yearslong scheme to turn political donations and grant funds into personal income.
Former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum has been found not guilty of lying to FBI agents but the jury failed to reach a verdict on 18 other fraud counts. The allegations by federal prosecutors that Gillum and his “political godmother” Sharon Lettman-Hicks illegally steered political contributions to their personal accounts during his 2018 run for governor could not be agreed upon. Gillum and Hicks faced a single charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 17 counts of wire fraud. Gillum also faced a separate charge of lying to the FBI about his interactions with undercover agents.
Andrew Gillum, former Democratic candidate for Florida governor, has been acquitted of lying to the FBI in a corruption case involving illegal use of campaign contributions. However, the federal jury hung on charges that Gillum funneled tens of thousands of dollars in campaign money to personal accounts, and prosecutors have said they will retry him on those counts. Gillum lost the 2018 gubernatorial race to Republican Ron DeSantis by less than 34,000 votes.
Former Florida Democratic candidate for governor, Andrew Gillum, was acquitted of lying to the FBI in a corruption case involving illegal use of campaign contributions. However, the federal jury hung on charges that Gillum funneled tens of thousands of dollars in campaign money to personal accounts. Prosecutors said they will retry him on those counts. Gillum had faced a potentially lengthy prison sentence if convicted.
Former Florida Democratic candidate for governor, Andrew Gillum, was acquitted of lying to the FBI in a corruption case involving illegal use of campaign contributions. However, the federal jury hung on charges that Gillum funneled tens of thousands of dollars in campaign money to personal accounts. Prosecutors said they will retry him on those counts. Gillum sought to become the first Black governor in Florida history when he took on Republican Ron DeSantis in 2018, but lost by less than 34,000 votes.
Former Democratic nominee for Florida governor, Andrew Gillum, was found not guilty of lying to the FBI but the jury deadlocked on 18 other charges. Gillum was accused of conspiring with his mentor to divert campaign contributions for personal use during his unsuccessful run for governor. The jury reached its verdict on one charge after more than four days of deliberation. The government will retry Gillum and his mentor on the charges the jury deadlocked on. Gillum had faced a maximum prison term of 20 years for the top counts against him.
Andrew Gillum, former Florida gubernatorial candidate, has been acquitted of lying to the FBI but a mistrial was declared on charges related to whether he and a close associate diverted campaign funds. Gillum and Sharon Lettman-Hicks were indicted last June over how they had raised and used political funds when he was the mayor of Tallahassee and a candidate for governor. The trial lasted two weeks before jury deliberations began last Friday.
Former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum has been found not guilty of lying to the FBI about gifts he received from undercover agents, but the jury deadlocked on charges of conspiracy and wire fraud involving the misuse of campaign funds. The judge declared a mistrial on those counts. The government plans to retry Gillum and his co-defendant on the charges. Gillum could have faced up to five years in prison for making false statements.
Andrew Gillum, the former Democratic nominee for Florida governor, is on trial for allegedly committing wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and lying to the FBI during his campaign. Prosecutors claim that Gillum used campaign funds to pay for personal expenses and illegally received gifts, including theater tickets to "Hamilton." Gillum's defense argues that his involvement with a public relations agency was legitimate and that his brother acted on his own in soliciting donations. The trial also involves alleged lies Gillum told to the FBI about a trip to New York. Gillum faces a maximum of 20 years behind bars for each of the 17 counts of wire fraud and a wire fraud conspiracy count, and a maximum of five years for lying to the FBI.
