Jurors on Tuesday resumed deliberations in the federal corruption trial of state Sen. Emil Jones III, after nine days in which prosecutors argued Jones had sold his power as a state senator for the promise of a $5,000 campaign contribution and a minimum wage job for his intern.
Jones’ defense attorneys argued that the South Side Democrat was caught in a web of other lawmakers on the take who had corrupt relationships with Omar Maani, a red-light camera executive who cooperated with the feds in exchange for deferred prosecution on his own bribery charges.
The jury returned to court Tuesday morning to weigh counts of bribery, use of an interstate facility to solicit bribery and lying to federal agents. The most serious charge carries up to 10 years in prison, while the others have a five-year maximum term. If Jones, 46, is found guilty, he would be forced to give up his Senate seat, which he took over from his father in 2009, and likely lose any future pension.
In closing arguments Monday before a full gallery that included Jones’ father, former Senate President Emil Jones Jr., Jones’ lawyer Vic Henderson portrayed his client in a “David vs. Goliath” fight against the feds — all for the sake of a long-stalled proposal to conduct a statewide study of red light cameras across Illinois. His attorneys painted a portrait of him as a hardworking state legislator who was simply trying to get his bill through a stubborn committee process.
Jones testified in his own defense last week that he met with Maani to curry favor with the corrupt head of the transportation committee, then-state Sen. Martin Sandoval, who admitted to taking cash payments from Maani. He testified that he was trying to distance himself from Maani, who reminded him of a “used car salesman,” and described his request for an internship as a routine job recommendation for a family friend.
But prosecutors said Jones, who had been skeptical of red-light cameras for years, changed his tune on the bill he was pushing once Maani began to court him with steak dinners and offers of sponsorship for campaign contributions. In a recorded conversation played for the jury, Maani can be heard asking Jones “how much money you want me to come up with?”
Jones, a few moments later, replied: “If you can raise me five grand, that’d be good.”
While Jones’ defense team focused on the fact that no payment was made to Jones, prosecutors reminded jurors that Jones said he’d amend the bill and “protect” Maani’s company from a House opponent soon after Maani promised him the money and arranged a job for the senator’s intern.
“Legislators and legislation should not be up for sale for any price,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Ardam told the panel during closing arguments. “That is a crime.”