Former Cincinnati City Councilman PG Sittenfeld loses appeal in bribery case
A federal appeals court has upheld former Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld's convictions on federal charges of bribery and attempted extortion.
The decision, released Tuesday morning, was split, 2-1.
The court wrote:
"Every day in this country, politicians solicit donations to finance their campaigns. And every day, those same politicians make statements about what they believe in, what they've done, and what they promise to do once elected. Sometimes, even often, these solicitations and promises occur in the same place, at the same time. But though this speech and conduct are generally protected by the First Amendment, bribery remains illegal. When the bribery involves money flowing to a politician for his personal use, the crime is straightforward. But when a politician is accused of accepting campaign funds in exchange for the promise of official action, the line becomes blurrier. Still, the Supreme Court tells us there is a line. And Congress and the Court have entrusted juries with discerning between legitimate campaign donations and illegitimate bribes. We must respect that line even in hard cases. This is one such case."
The one-time political star who aspired to be mayor was accused of trading favorable votes for campaign contributions.
Sittenfeld, 39, was convicted in July 2022 after an investigation that dated back to 2018. He was sentenced to 16-months in prison and immediately appealed.
His sentence was delayed while his attorneys pursued legal issues, and Sittenfeld ultimately reported to prison on Jan. 2., 2024. He served about four and half months before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals released him pending its decision on the appeal.
At the time, the panel said that federal law allows release pending appeal when a defendant is not a flight risk, does not pose a danger to the safety of others − and it is "likely that success on appeal, on the substantial question that the defendant raises, would result in reversal or a new trial."
In June, Princeton Alumni Weekly, the alumni magazine of the college Sittenfeld attended, published a story about Sittenfeld that included an interview with him. In it, Sittenfeld talked about finding God, not seeking elected office again and instead shifting his career goal to becoming a writer.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: PG Sittenfeld's appeal in bribery case denied in federal court
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