Andrew Gillum’s corruption trial begins

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Former Democrat candidate for governor Andrew Gillum and co-defendant, former campaign advisor Sharon Lettman-Hicks’ federal corruption trial is set to begin Monday in Tallahassee.

Gillum was previously indicted by a federal grand jury on 21 counts for conspiracy, wire fraud, and making false statements.

Last week, a superseding indictment was filed which includes two fewer charges of wire fraud against them – making it 19 counts, instead of 21 – according to reports.

U.S. District Judge Allen C. Winsor is presiding over the case, which is reportedly expected to last about a month.

It is alleged that from 2016 to 2019, 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.”

The indictment alleges the defendants used third parties to divert a portion of those funds to a company owned by Lettman-Hicks, who then fraudulently provided the funds, disguised as “payroll payments,” to Gillum for his personal use, according to the Department of Justice.

Making false statements has a maximum term of 5 years, conspiracy to commit wire fraud has 20, and wire fraud has 20.

“I have spent the last 20 years of my life in public service and continue to fight for the people,” Gillum said in a previous statement.

“Every campaign I’ve run has been done with integrity. Make no mistake that this case is not legal, it is political. Throughout my career I have always stood up for the people of Florida and have spoken truth to power. There’s been a target on my back ever since I was the mayor of Tallahassee. They found nothing then, and I have full confidence that my legal team will prove my innocence now,” he said.

During the 2018 election, Gov. Ron DeSantis went after Gillum for corruption accusations and rumored investigations.

In an interview with FOX News in 2018, DeSantis blasted Gillum for being under investigation for corruption.

“Of course he is, and of course he has violated Florida law by accepting those gifts, not just that, but this luxury vacation to Costa Rica … he turned around and gave the lobbyist $2 million in city money to build a restaurant, that is what local corruption looks like,” DeSantis said.

Gillum lost to DeSantis by only approximately 30,000 votes, or 0.4% of the vote.