Judge won’t drop charges for former Florida gubernatorial candidate Gillum

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A federal decide in Florida has refused to throw out legal charges towards Andrew Gillum, disagreeing with the former Democratic gubernatorial nominee’s assertions that he was the sufferer of selective prosecution as a result of he was a Black candidate for governor.

Gillum and a colleague were indicted earlier this 12 months on federal charges together with conspiracy, wire fraud and making false statements to FBI brokers. Prosecutors stated Gillum funneled donations by means of third events again to himself for private use.

According to prosecutors, Gillum met with undercover FBI brokers posing as builders whereas he was mayor of Tallahassee and through his marketing campaign for governor. His associates sought donations from the brokers, and urged methods to supply cash with out itemizing them as political contributions, together with paying for a fundraising dinner, in keeping with the indictment.

Gillum has pleaded not responsible and denied the charges, saying they had been politically motivated.

Saying the defendants’ arguments had been “meritless,” U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor last week dismissed four motions from the defendants challenging the continuation of the prosecution.

Gillum had asked that the charges be dismissed because prosecutors delayed filing them and he was being prosecuted because of his race and politics. The judge who was appointed by former President Donald Trump said Gillum had offered nothing to support the claim of selective prosecution because of his race or politics.

Gillum, who is Black, was the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 2018 and narrowly lost the race to Republican Ron DeSantis. After losing, Gillum was still seen as a rising star in Democratic politics and was hired as a CNN analyst.

Then, in March 2020, Gillum was discovered intoxicated and unconscious in a lodge room with two males, together with one who works as a male escort. Two days later he entered a rehabilitation center, and later did a tv interview wherein he stated he’s bisexual.