8 months ago by Scott Hardy
Sam McCann accused of not telling parole office he'd been released from St. Louis hospital
A former Republican state senator and third-party candidate for governor was taken into custody Friday while he awaits the beginning of his twice-delayed federal corruption trial on Monday.
Capitol News Illinois reports Sam McCann’s trial was supposed to begin and end this week, but the former Springfield-area lawmaker checked himself into a St. Louis County hospital last weekend after feeling unwell. McCann was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon after a series of delays and hearings in which he video-conferenced into the Springfield courtroom from his hospital bed. But he couldn’t prove to Judge Colleen Lawless that he’d told his probation officer of his release. Lawless in turn ordered McCann into custody, telling him she’d accept “no more excuses.”
McCann's facing nine counts and is accused of using over $200,000 in campaign money for his personal use. McCann was a Senator from 2011 to early 2019, and his district included Pike and Scott Counties.
