Former Illinois senator's wire fraud and money laundering trial delayed again

 A federal judge on Monday further delayed the wire fraud and money laundering trial of former Illinois gubernatorial candidate William "Sam" McCann after McCann announced he is "medically and psychologically" unable to proceed. And he abandoned his plans to represent himself.

US District Court Judge Colleen Lawless did not accept the self-diagnosis of the former lawmaker, who was hospitalized last week with chest pains and fainting, but released on Wednesday. But after a second conference with his so-called standby attorney, Jason Vincent, McCann indicated he wanted Vincent to take over and the judge granted a one-day extension to allow Vincent to confirm the defense strategy with his client. Gave.

McCain, a former Republican state senator from Plainview who ran a third-party conservative campaign for governor in 2018, was indicted in February 2021 by former U.S. Attorney John Millhiser, who was appointed by then-President Donald Trump. McCann is charged with seven counts of wire fraud and single counts of money laundering and tax evasion for allegedly converting hundreds of thousands of dollars of political campaign contributions to personal use.

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In response to questioning by Lawless, McCann, who has been held in a nearby county jail since his personal recognizance bond was revoked last Friday, said he had collapsed overnight and was found by jailers this morning.

“You ask me if I feel ready, no. I'm standing here in prison clothes, I fell and hit my head front and back, I have severe angina, but I'll follow whatever you say ,” McCann said. "I don't feel medically or psychologically able to move forward."

McCann, 54, who entered the courtroom in a wheelchair, was hospitalized last week after fainting and complaining of chest pain, delaying the start of the trial scheduled for Feb. 5. This came after Lawless gave him a 60-day extension last November after he fired his lawyers and announced he wanted to represent himself.

He was discharged last Wednesday after doctors found no problems with his heart. He told Lawless on Monday that he was unsure what drugs he was given and had little recollection of events that occurred after his release, including driving by himself to Springfield on Friday when his parole was up. Was cancelled.

"From the beginning, I have tried to give you the opportunity to represent yourself, follow court orders, be forthcoming with information and be honest with the court," Lawless said. "Now you're telling me you drove here on Friday and you don't remember it and don't know why you don't remember it?"

McCann attributed the memory loss to not having access to several medications in prison, including duloxetine, an antidepressant for which the medical literature recommends reducing the dosage rather than preventing colds. But the government reported that U.S. Marshals Service officers who took McCann's medications while he was in prison discovered that McCann had not taken duloxetine for two months.

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McCann declined to comment as he was escorted out of the courtroom.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Bass told Lawless, "All of his actions indicate that he is coherent and fully mentally capable of going about any of his business, except when he is in front of your honor. " "You've got to bend over backwards to make sure he gets a fair hearing, but respectfully, at some point you have to say, 'Enough is enough.'"

Bass did not object to a one-day delay to aid Vincent's preparation to take charge of McCann's defense. Vincent said he is familiar with the evidence in the case, but he needs time to discuss the technicalities of the trial, potential witnesses and how to cross-examine them and other ways McCann can assist him.