Illinois state Sen. Emil Jones plead not guilty to federal bribery charges Friday. Jones was charged earlier this week with accepting bribes from a red-light camera company in exchange for killing legislation that went against the company’s interests.
State Sen. Emil Jones III, D-Chicago, presents cemetery reform legislation before the Senate Executive Committee at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on Dec. 13, 2011. He has held his seat since 2009.
That only-in-Illinois reality raised more questions about the political future for Jones, who was charged earlier in the week with accepting bribes from a red-light camera company executive in exchange for killing legislation that went against the company’s interests.The arraignment Friday came amid increasing pressure for Jones to step down from the seat he’s held since 2009, having followed his powerful father, then-Senate President Emil Jones Jr.
Jones entered a formal plea to the charges during a telephonic hearing before U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood. “I plead not guilty, your honor,” he said in a calm voice. “Everyone knows he is an honest, hardworking legislator,” Jones Jr. said. “I intend to fight with him and stand alongside him throughout this process.”
The charges alleged Jones agreed with SafeSpeed executive and co-founder Omar Maani — who was secretly cooperating with federal investigators — to “protect” SafeSpeed by limiting any traffic studies to the city of Chicago, excluding the suburbs where the company does much of its business.Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon.
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