McCann pleads not guilty through public defender
Wednesday, Feb 24, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Dean Olsen at the SJ-R…
Former state senator and gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann of Plainview pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal charges that allege he illegally spent more than $200,000 in campaign funds on cars, debts, other personal expenses and pay for himself. […]
Public defender Rosie Brown entered McCann’s not guilty plea, and McCann didn’t comment during the hearing except to answer questions from Long about whether he understood the charges against him and when describing his finances, his education and medical needs. […]
He said his wife’s earnings as a nurse working in the Washington, D.C., area, make up his sole income, and he has $500 in a personal checking account. He said he lives in Plainview with his 13-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son. […]
McCann must meet several conditions to remain free while his case goes through court, including the sale or transfer of 75 firearms in the personal collection at his home, [U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Eric Long] said.
Man, what a plummet.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 3:25 am:
Rauner say he took him out
- RNUG - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 6:59 am:
Hope Sam can work out his legal issues.
Wonder what the logic is behind his having to dispose of his firearms? The story didn’t elaborate.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 7:43 am:
I don’t even have 75 Pokémon cards.
What’s the deal with 75 firearms?
- RNUG - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 8:12 am:
== What’s the deal with 75 firearms? ==
Must be a serious collector. I know at least one person with more.
I’m not really a collector but I probably have a dozen in my gun safe, mostly antiques. Though I can’t see ever getting to 75.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 8:16 am:
“What’s the deal with 75 firearms?”
I own a lot less, but have actually fired less than half of them.
For some, it’s collection. Especially if we are talking about period pieces.
For others, it becomes an obsession.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 8:18 am:
Just another reminder that the third party thing is but a passing fad.
- Todd - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 8:36 am:
75 is a respectable number but not eye popping. If you collect say Winchester lever guns that would be a small number or M1 Garands or Carbines.
The logic behind the removal of firearms is state law. Once charged with a felony you get your FOID card revoked. Federal law says you can’t acquire new ones, but sometimes if the crime warrants it as a condition of bail you can’t possess any.
And Wolf — just goes to show you don’t understand a large part of the gun guys. We like our stuff. And we like them for different reasons. Some of us treat them like screw drivers where each has a different purchase. We keep some for sentimental value, I still have the first rifle my father gave me. Some we keep to pass down, several are for my sons.
Others for the marvel of their mechanical engineering some for history. And others are our daily kit we use/carry. And then there are those just because we can
- Quibbler - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 8:45 am:
A “personal responsibility” conservative with 75 guns but no job to support his kids. Sounds about white.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 8:47 am:
=Just another reminder that the third party thing is but a passing fad.=
Tell that to McCann’s onomatopoeic namesake Sam Cahnman, who despite being a Springfield Democrat has previously defended David Gill when he’s tried to launch third-party candidacies.
- Essential State Employee - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 8:48 am:
Anonymous at 8:47 was me. Sorry to forget the handle.
- Lynn S. - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 8:57 am:
Possibly taking this into a very dark place, but…:
What’s the logic in mandating the sale of the guns?
1. Is it possible they are very valuable and may provide money to reimburse the PD’s office?
2. Are there concerns about the mental health of Sam or any of his family members? There’s a pretty solid correlation between guns in a home and the risk of a successful suicide attempt.
Sorry if this upsets anyone.
- don the legend - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 8:59 am:
==onomatopoeic==
I had to look that one up. Very nice.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 9:13 am:
===including the sale or transfer of 75 firearms in the personal collection at his home===
This detail is reminiscent of when a local government intervenes on a bad situation and they remove dozens of animals and pets from a trailer.
At least those firearms have a resale value.
===Wonder what the logic is behind his having to dispose of his firearms? ===
The Judge set the conditions for bail, so I am sure they have their reasons.
- We've never had one before - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 9:30 am:
>>>>Wonder what the logic is behind his having to dispose of his firearms? The story didn’t elaborate.
In misdemeanor court, judges do that, a lot, but not usually stipulating “sale”.
In felony indictments, your civil right to be armed can be taken from you before any verdict is rendered.
- Nagidam - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 9:36 am:
===including the sale or transfer of 75 firearms in the personal collection at his home===
While sale or transfer would seem to be one in the same they are not. “Sale” is about ownership of these guns and maybe the potential cash benefit of them. “Transfer” can mean in Illinois law possession of these guns. A person can transfer these guns to a family member. What is intriguing with the term “Transfer” is that is what happens to a person that loses their FOID card and therefore their ability to posses a gun.
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 9:43 am:
I still remember when he was everyone’s favorite Republican because he was a union-backed thorn in Rauner’s side…
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 9:46 am:
===… was everyone’s favorite Republican because he was a union-backed thorn in Rauner’s side…===
McCann served the purpose to ensure Rauner’s demise.
I’m grateful for that.
The rest I’ll leave to the US Attorney.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 9:53 am:
===because he was a union-backed===
I don’t recall any of his donors or supporters publicly encouraging him to use campaign funds to buy a camper and rent it to himself.
===and therefore their ability to posses a gun. ===
I imagine in the very near future Mr. McCann will be a convicted felon.
I would also anticipate that the court’s demand may have something to do with information we’re not currently aware of, which could include text messages, emails, social media posts, et al., which have been obtained by the Government and may paint a more alarming picture.
- Squints - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 9:53 am:
Local 150 really has a way with helping out their friends.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 10:36 am:
== McCann served the purpose to ensure Rauner’s demise. ==
I actually liked Sam. One of a very few politicians I could talk to and feel he was actually listening and hearing what was said, something you can’t say about many politicians.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 11:25 am:
I usually believe that once an elected official is no longer in office they deserve to re-gain their privacy, but in this instance his wrong doings are related to his campaign fund, so this is absolutely fair game.
- Columbo - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 11:47 am:
RNUG - I actually liked Sam. One of a very few politicians I could talk to…..
With great respect. I too talked to Sam, and he was a heckava of a salesman. But…long before Sam was a Senator, he was my contractor on a building I owned. It was a nightmare experience, I later learned I was not alone in that experience. He continued that same playbook as a Senator and this inevitable outcome was predictable.
- Chicagonk - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 12:42 pm:
So Madigan and the 150 are just going to leave him to dry with a public defender (no offense to the public defender who I am sure is good - just probably doesn’t have the resources or the team a big criminal defense firm has).
- Dotnonymous - Wednesday, Feb 24, 21 @ 4:04 pm:
McCann should claim Qanon demanded him to do it…just for the fun.
- Essential State Employee - Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 9:08 am:
Will McCann hire Sam Cahnman as his defense attorney?