Democratic Challenger Now Facing YEARS In Prison
(StraightNews.org) – In 2018, former Tallahassee, Florida Democrat Mayor Andrew Gillum went toe-to-toe with Republican Ron DeSantis for the title of governor. After DeSantis won the election, Gillum fell into a depression and began abusing alcohol, eventually sending himself to rehab after he was found unresponsive in a Florida hotel room with a male companion. Now, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a 21-count indictment against Gillum and his mentor Sharon Janet Lettman-Hicks for mishandling campaign funds.
On Wednesday, June 22, the Northern District of Florida’s US Attorney’s Office announced the indictment against Gillum and Lettman-Hicks for wire fraud and making false statements to investigators between 2016 and 2019. The politicians allegedly solicited funds from various donors with false promises. The DOJ outlined how the pair allegedly moved money through a company owned by Lettman-Hicks and personally paid Gillum with it.
Former Tallahassee Mayor And Gubernatorial Candidate And Associate Charged With Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, And Making False Statements https://t.co/L2Eq4JU6nm @FBIJacksonville
— U.S. Attorney NDFL (@NDFLnews) June 22, 2022
Authorities charged both politicians with 19 counts of wire fraud. Gillum is also facing two additional charges for lying to the FBI.
The same afternoon the indictment was announced, both Gillum and Lettman-Hicks pleaded not guilty to all charges. In a statement provided to NBC News, Gillum wrote that over two decades of his life have been committed to public service, and called this indictment “not legal” but “political.”
Gillum has evaded jail time in numerous scandals over the years, and now he’s hoping to do it again. Now, he will face a trial by a jury of his peers if he wants to prove his innocence.
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