Andrew Gillum and Sharon Lettman-Hicks are scheduled to begin their public corruption trial on Monday, April 17, but there is uncertainty regarding a possible superseding indictment and a request for a continuance from the defense.
At a hearing on Monday, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor considered arguments from both sides regarding the admissibility of certain exhibits into evidence.
The defense was granted a request for jurors to receive a written questionnaire on the morning of jury selection, and the judge also discussed the trial’s first day and hoped to seat a jury in the morning and move to opening statements by the afternoon.
Gillum, the former Tallahassee mayor and Democratic nominee for Florida governor, and Lettman-Hicks were indicted last June on federal charges of conspiracy to funnel campaign contributions to themselves.
The charges came from the same undercover FBI probe, Operation Capital Currency, that led to bribery convictions for former Tallahassee City Commissioner and Mayor Scott Maddox, his aide Paige Carter-Smith, and businessman John “J.T.” Burnette.
Last week, federal prosecutors indicated they may seek a superseding indictment in the case, but it’s unclear if it will include new defendants or charges. Lawyers for Lettman-Hicks said they may seek a continuance based on a new indictment.
The judge is expected to rule on the admissibility of recorded conversations between undercover agents and members of Gillum’s inner circle on Thursday. Gillum’s lawyers have asked to exclude conversations that took place outside of his presence.
