Gillum cleared of FBI lying, retrial sought.

Former Mayor and Gubernatorial Candidate Andrew Gillum Found Not Guilty of Lying to FBI

On May 4, a federal grand jury found former Tallahassee mayor and former gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum not guilty of lying to the FBI. However, the remaining 18 counts against him and co-defendant Sharon Lettman-Hicks, including wire fraud and conspiracy, resulted in a deadlocked jury and a mistrial declaration.

The Allegations

According to a June 22, 2022, press release from the United States Department of Justice, Gillum and Lettman-Hicks “conspired to commit wire fraud by unlawfully soliciting and obtaining funds from various entities and individuals through false and fraudulent promises and representations that the funds would be used for a legitimate purpose” between 2016 and 2019. The indictment further alleges that they used third parties to divert a portion of those funds to P&P Communications, a company owned by Lettman-Hicks. Lettman-Hicks then fraudulently distributed the funds, disguised as payroll payments, to Gillum for his personal use.

The Outcome

After five days of deliberations, the jury acquitted Gillum on the charge that he lied to the FBI about a “Hamilton” ticket and other gifts he took from undercover FBI agents in New York. However, the jury was unable to reach a consensus on the remaining charges, and U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor declared a mistrial.

Gillum’s Political Career

Gillum was once considered a rising star among Democrats. In 2003, he became the youngest person to serve as a Tallahassee city commissioner. In 2014, he became the 126th mayor of Tallahassee, where he stayed until 2018. In 2016, Gillum delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention. Gillum launched his gubernatorial campaign in 2017 and won the Democratic primary in 2018 with the backing of Bernie Sanders. He was the first black nominee in a major political party to run for governor in Florida. However, Gillum’s star crashed in March 2020 when he was named in a police report regarding a suspected drug overdose at a Miami Beach hotel.

Conclusion

While the outcome of the trial may have been a mixed bag for Gillum, it’s clear that his political career has been a rollercoaster ride. From being a rising star to facing serious allegations, Gillum’s story is a reminder that even the most promising politicians can fall from grace.