Earlier today, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida filed a motion to dismiss the remaining seventeen counts of wire fraud against former Florida Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Andrew Gillum and Sharon Lettman-Hicks, the prominent Democratic operative and public relations guru who served as a senior campaign strategist for the Gillum for Governor campaign in 2018.
U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor, the presiding jurist over last month’s three week trial that ended in an acquittal for Gillum on count 1—lying to the FBI—and a 10-2 hung jury for both of the accused (10 to acquit, two to convict), originally set a status hearing for this Wednesday, May 17th, for prosecutors to determine whether they would try the hung counts a second time. By filing today’s motion, prosecutors have decided not to pursue a second trial; all that remains is the formality of Judge Winsor’s signature on the Order of Dismissal!
Having watched well over half of last month’s trial, and having prayed, sat, and eaten with the family and friends of both of the accused while awaiting the verdict, I can attest first hand that contrary to the right wing conspiracy types who question whether the prosecutors fought hard to win a conviction, I assure you that they did, and I also assure you that the lawyers for both of the accused, David Markus and Margot Moss for Gillum, and Alex Morris and Mutaqee Akbar for Lettman-Hicks, worked hard to defend their clients during trial!
I can also attest that both defendants faced this trial with dignity and great faith that the truth would set them free, as it most certainly has following a stressful year that found their sterling professional reputations questioned by those who neither knew the facts, nor availed themselves of opportunities to come to court and learn the facts for themselves.
Thus, my kudos to all involved who respected the jury trial process and now respect the final outcome that declares from this day forward the legal truth, that Mr. Gillum and Ms. Lettman-Hicks are NOT GUILTY!
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Chuck Hobbs is a freelance journalist who won the 2010 Florida Bar Media Award and has been twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.
"Real Politics in Real Time"
Chuck Hobbs is a freelance journalist who won the 2010 Florida Bar Media Award and has been twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.
