Andrew Gillum found not guilty of lying to FBI
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Former Florida Democratic candidate for governor Andrew Gillum, who got here inside a whisker of defeating Republican Ron DeSantis in 2018, was acquitted Thursday of mendacity to the FBI in a corruption case that additionally concerned unlawful use of marketing campaign contributions.
However the federal jury held on fees that Gillum funneled tens of 1000’s of {dollars} in marketing campaign cash to private accounts. Prosecutors stated they are going to retry him on these counts. That they had claimed Gillum was struggling financially after quitting his $120,000-a-year job with the Individuals for the American Method group to run for governor.
Gillum was acquitted of mendacity to undercover FBI brokers posing as builders who paid for a 2016 journey he took together with his brother to New York, together with resort rooms, meals, a ship tour and a ticket to the hit Broadway present “Hamilton.”
Outdoors the courthouse, Gillum thanked his household, spouse, authorized crew and pastor for his or her help, however took a dig at prosecutors.
“They’ve fairly actually tried to take the whole lot from us. And the wonder is in our system the powers that be don’t all the time get to resolve. On a regular basis folks such as you and me generally get our swing on the ball,” he stated.
Requested about what comes subsequent, Gillum stated “sleep” as he walked away from a gaggle of reports reporters.
Gillum had confronted a doubtlessly prolonged jail sentence if convicted, though, below federal sentencing tips, he would have doubtless gotten far lower than the utmost.
The jury got here again hung for public relations govt and Gillum adviser, co-defendant Sharon Lettman-Hicks, within the case. Prosecutors say they may even retry her.
Gillum, 43, a former Tallahassee mayor, sought to turn into the primary Black governor in Florida historical past when he took on DeSantis in 2018. Gillum misplaced by lower than 34,000 votes to DeSantis, triggering an computerized recount.
