Tallahassee, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge in Florida has refused to dismiss criminal charges against Andrew Gillum, a former Democratic gubernatorial candidate who said he was the victim of selective indictment because he was a black candidate for governor. I disagree with the claims.
Guillam and colleagues indicted Earlier this year, on federal charges involving conspiracy, wire fraud, and false statements to FBI agents. Prosecutors said Gillam funneled the donation into himself through a third party for personal use.
Prosecutors say Gillam met with an undercover FBI agent posing as a developer during his tenure as mayor of Tallahassee and during his gubernatorial campaign. According to the indictment, his associate asked the agent for donations and suggested ways to provide the money without considering it a political contribution, according to the indictment.
Gillam has pleaded not guilty, denying the charges and saying they were politically motivated.
Calling the defendants’ allegations “futile,” U.S. District Judge Allen Windsor last week dismissed four motions by the defendants challenging continued prosecution.
Gillam was seeking the dismissal of the charges because prosecutors had delayed the charges and he was being charged for race and politics. A judge appointed by former President Donald Trump said Gillam offered nothing to support his claim of selective prosecution on grounds of his race or politics.
Gillam, who is black, was the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 2018 and was narrowly defeated by Republican Ron DeSantis. Even after the loss, Gillum was still considered a rising Democratic star and was hired as an analyst for CNN.
Then, in March 2020, Gillam was found drunk and unconscious in a hotel room with two men, including one who worked as a male escort. 2 days later he went to a rehab center Later, in a television interview, he stated that he was bisexual.