8 months, 1 week ago by Scott Hardy
Wife of former Sen. Sam McCann says he's hospitalized.
A bench trial for a former Illinois state senator and gubernatorial candidate, charged with illegally spending over 200 thousand dollars in campaign funds on debts and personal expenses, has been delayed after an unusual series of hearings Monday.
Sam McCann was due in U.S. District Court in Springfield Monday morning for the start of his trial. Court records say that McCann's stand-by attorney received an email from McCann's wife that morning, claiming he was in a St. Louis County, Missouri hospital and due to undergo a procedure. McCann had complained about medical issues at earlier hearings. Two other hearings were held Monday, where McCann's wife told the stand-by attorney that McCann had had diagnostic testing done. Prosecutors also said that they had spoken with an attorney for the hospital where McCann is a patient, but that they did not get a confirmation on McCann's condition. A status hearing is set for Tuesday morning. McCann plans to represent himself at trial. McCann's having a bench trial after he waived his right to a jury trial at a hearing in mid-November. He was indicted in February 2021 on nine counts of wire fraud, money laundering and tax evasion. The Government plans to show that McCann used campaign funds to pay for mortgages on two homes in Carlinville, and well as for two vehicles, an RV and a motor home.
McCann was a state senator from 2011 to early 2019, and his district included Pike and Scott Counties.
