Former Nevada Powerbroker Guilty of Making Illegal Contributions to Sen. Harry Reid – Update: Mistrial on lying charge

The Associated Press reports that Harvey Whittemore skirted campaign finance laws in order to make contributions in others’ names to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The federal jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on charges of making excessive campaign contributions, making contributions in the name of another and causing a false statement to be made to the Federal Election Commission. […]Prosecutors say Whittemore gave money to family members and employees in 2007 to make contributions he had promised to Reid while concealing himself as the true source to skirt campaign finance laws.

 

Whittemore was just found guilty this afternoon by a US Judge on three counts of making illegal campaign contributions.

The jury is still deadlocked on a fourth charge involving lying to the FBI.

A U.S. District Court jury has found developer Harvey Whittemore guilty on three counts of making illegal campaign contributions.Jurors are telling U.S. District Court Judge Larry Hicks they don’t think they can reach a verdict on charges Whittemore lied to the FBI. HIcks is sending the jury back to deliberate on the lying charge.

According to an AP report in 2012, Reid’s office said the money donated has been given to charity.

UPDATE 6:10pm EST:  The jury has returned on the last remaining charge against Whittemore.  From Reno Gazette Journal:

U.S. District Court Judge Larry Hicks has declared a mistrial on a count that developer Harvey Whittemore lied to the FBI. Hicks called the jury hopelessly deadlocked.

 

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