CASE DISMISSED!

Get the Point!

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.

Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee's former mayor who narrowly lost the gubernatorial race to Ron DeSantis in 2018, shares a tender moment with his mentor and long-time political strategist Sharon Lettman-Hicks after the jury returned an acquittal on count one, and were hung on the remaining counts on May 4th…

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, Margot Moss, and Katie Miller for Gillum, and Alex Morris and Mutaqee Akbar for Lettman-Hicks, worked hard to defend their clients during trial!

Ms. Lettman-Hicks was defended by Attorney Alex Morris (above) and Attorney Mutaqee Akbar, two veteran Tallahassee criminal defense lawyers who worked indefatigably for nearly a full year to defend their client, one who maintained her innocence with fierce determination from the very first…

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!