TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — 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 prices that Gillum funneled tens of hundreds of {dollars} in marketing campaign cash to private accounts. Prosecutors mentioned 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 Folks for the American Manner 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 along with his brother to New York, together with resort rooms, meals, a ship tour and a ticket to the hit Broadway present “Hamilton.”
Exterior the courthouse, Gillum thanked his household, spouse, authorized workforce and pastor for his or her help, however took a dig at prosecutors.
“They’ve fairly actually tried to take every part 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 individuals such as you and me generally get our swing on the ball,” he mentioned.
Requested about what comes subsequent, Gillum mentioned “sleep” as he walked away from a gaggle of reports reporters.
Gillum had confronted a probably prolonged jail sentence if convicted, though, underneath federal sentencing tips, he would have doubtless gotten far lower than the utmost.
The jury got here again hung for public relations government and Gillum adviser, co-defendant Sharon Lettman-Hicks, within the case. Prosecutors mentioned they will 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 automated recount.
