Andrew Gillum Arrested by Feds

Andrew Gillum, 2018 Democratic nominee for Florida governor and former Tallahassee mayor, and a longtime adviser, Sharon Lettman-Hicks, were arrested Wednesday on federal campaign-related charges.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida confirmed the charges in an announcement. Gillum, 42, and Lettman-Hicks, 53, were both named in a 21-count indictment.

The indictment alleges that between 2016 and 2019, Gillum and Lettman-Hicks conspired to commit wire fraud by unlawfully soliciting and obtaining funds from various entities and individuals "through false and fraudulent promises and representations that the funds would be used for a legitimate purpose," the government said.

Gillum and Lettman-Hicks both surrendered to the FBI. They are scheduled to have their first court appearance at 2 p.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Tallahassee.

Gillum denied any wrongdoing in a statement sent through his campaign.

"I have spent the last 20 years of my life in public service and continue to fight for the people," Gillum said in a prepared statement. "Every campaign I've run has been done with integrity. Make no mistake that this case is not legal, it is political."

The current Justice Department remains locked under the tight control of Attorney General Merrick Garland, a Democrat and appoint of President Joseph Biden.

Gillum came within .4% of winning the race for governor against Ron DeSantis in 2018.

Gillum's last brush with criminal activity occured when police found him with a male prostitute under the influence of drugs in a luxury hotel room.