TALLAHASSEE – A federal jury was empaneled Monday in the demo of previous Florida Democratic gubernatorial applicant Andrew Gillum, who was indicted last 12 months on corruption fees like wire fraud and lying to federal investigators.
Gillum, a former Tallahassee mayor, catapulted to growing-star status in Democratic circles as he campaigned from now-Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2018. DeSantis narrowly defeated Gillum, profitable by fewer than 33,000 votes in what was one of the nation’s marquee elections.
Gillum and a longtime adviser, Sharon Lettman-Hicks, had been indicted last 12 months immediately after a prolonged federal investigation into corruption in city government. The duo face allegations of earning bogus statements to the FBI, conspiring to commit wire fraud and committing wire fraud. Gillum and Lettman-Hicks, who have been accused of diverting campaign cash to Gillum’s particular use, have pleaded not responsible.
U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor, defense legal professionals and prosecutors spent Monday deciding on 12 jurors and a few alternate jurors from an first pool of 66 candidates. The jury consists of two Black males and three Black girls.
Gillum, who tried to become the state’s 1st Black governor, has steadfastly taken care of his innocence.
“We have obtained a lengthy day in advance, but if we are privileged, we will get a honest jury. That’s all we want,” he instructed reporters Monday morning as he entered the federal courthouse in downtown Tallahassee.
Amid these current through jury collection were Gillum’s wife, R. Jai, other loved ones customers and longtime pal Daryl Parks, a Tallahassee law firm.
On the eve of the trial, Gillum utilized social media to drum up contributions to the Convey Justice Household Authorized Defense Fund, a crowdsourcing work spearheaded by Ben Crump, a nationally renowned civil-legal rights legal professional who also is a close ally of Gillum.
“One of my biggest worries but is the courtroom scenario that starts tomorrow. I am unequivocally innocent of the gross allegations becoming designed in opposition to me. But I are not able to gain this struggle by itself. Thank you for the prayers and words and phrases of aid numerous of you have extended to me and my relatives,” Gillum’s put up mentioned.
Gillum is represented by David Oscar Markus, A. Margot Moss and Katie Miller of the Miami-based mostly Markus/PLLC organization.
Prosecutors past 7 days filed what is known as a “superseding” indictment versus Gillum and Lettman-Hicks, dropping two wire-fraud expenses. Gillum now faces 19 counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud and creating phony statements.
At Markus’ ask for, Winsor requested possible jurors about their thoughts on guns and on LGBTQ troubles. The fees versus Gillum require funds similar to a Black LGBTQ-advocacy organization and an group that supports stricter gun manage.
The jury pool was designed up of adult men and girls from Leon County alongside with a handful of bordering rural places, which includes Madison, Liberty and Wakulla counties.
The indictment, shipped by a grand jury last calendar year and unsealed in June, painted a damning portrait of Gillum and Lettman-Hicks and centered on activities amongst 2016 and 2019, a time of Gillum’s political ascendancy.
Prosecutors accused Lettman-Hicks of illegally steering dollars to Gillum by her enterprise, P&P Communications.
Gillum’s lawyers filed motions trying to find to have the costs dropped and have also contended that the former mayor was singled out for prosecution due to the fact he was a Black candidate for governor. Winsor refused to dismiss the situation in December.
For about a year right after his narrow defeat to DeSantis, Gillum continued to enjoy national fame, doing work briefly for CNN as a political commentator in 2019.
But he dropped out of the spotlight soon after a 2020 incident in a South Seaside lodge place, exactly where a man reportedly overdosed. Gillum was in the home, and a law enforcement report claimed he was “unable to converse with officers due to his inebriated state.”
A few smaller bags of suspected crystal meth ended up found in the space, law enforcement reported, but Gillum denied performing medicine.
In March 2020, Gillum introduced he was heading into a rehabilitation facility simply because of alcohol abuse. He also reported he was bisexual.
The Tallahassee community-corruption probe – dubbed “Operation Capital Forex” by the FBI – also snared Scott Maddox, a former Tallahassee mayor and previous Florida Democratic Get together chairman. Maddox pleaded guilty in 2019 and served time in federal prison.
— News Company Assignment Manager Tom Urban contributed to this report.
