State Sen. Emil Jones III’s federal corruption trial in Chicago seemed to be coming to a close after almost five days of testimony. However, the situation took a surprising turn when the senator decided to testify.
He got back on the stand Wednesday.
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In court, Jones’ defense attorney, Victor Henderson, contended that his client had not committed any wrongdoing. He argued that Jones had been working tirelessly for years to pass a bill related to a red-light camera study.
Jones, a Democrat from Chicago, faces charges of bribery and giving false statements to FBI agents. Prosecutors claim that he agreed to accept a $5,000 campaign contribution from an executive of a red-light camera company. In return, he allegedly promised to assist with legislation in Springfield and secure a part-time job for his former intern. The intern received an $1,800 payment despite not performing any work.
The conversations were recorded.
During his testimony, the 46-year old lawmaker said he never asked the CEO of the red-light camera company SafeSpeed for a donation.
According to an FBI transcript, when the CEO brought up the possibility of a campaign contribution for a second time during a June 2019 dinner, Jones said, “I don’t give numbers. I’m not greedy.”
From the stand, Jones clarified, saying, “I didn’t say give me $5,000; I said raise me $5,000.”
Jones shared with the jury how his efforts to get his bill passed were stymied by the Transportation Committee, which was headed by state Sen. Martin Sandoval, until 2019 when the FBI raided his office and the investigation became public. Sandoval died in 2020 of a COVID-related illness.
While on the stand, Jones said of Sandoval, “He was kind of a bully in a way, a very intimidating kind of guy.”
Jones is the son of former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr., who was in court for part of Wednesday’s proceedings.
Jones has remained in office since the September 2022 indictment and since winning a four-year term in an unopposed race.
When the defense rests, it’s expected that jones will face a rigorous cross-examination by prosecutors.
Closing arguments could begin as early as Thursday.
Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.
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