Stockman vows he will be vindicated in conspiracy case
Appearing carefree and relaxed with his wife by his side, former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman told reporters outside a court hearing downtown Friday that he expected “to be vindicated” on allegations that he conspired with staffers to take $775,000 in donations intended for charitable purposes or voter education.
Stockman appeared briefly, in a charcoal suit and tie, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Smith and put a trio of lawyers from Smyser Kaplan & Veselka LLP on record to represent him. The judge set a preliminary hearing on the matter for April 11 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson.
On the sidewalk outside the federal courthouse, Stockman said he didn’t intend to plead guilty or enter into a plea agreement, adding, “I think ultimately we will be vindicated.”
Stockman’s attorney, Shaun G. Clarke, said he could not comment on the details of the case but he lauded Stockman’s reputation and integrity, while Stockman stood smiling beside him.
“We’ve just met Steve. But a couple of things have become clear — number one, that he’s a man of faith; number two, that he’s a fighter; number three, most of all, that he has tremendous faith in the Constitution of the United States of America,” Clarke said. “Steve has said he is going to fight to clear his name, and we’re going to be there next to him fighting to do it also.”
“We’re here to vindicate an innocent man — Steve Stockman — and that’s what we’re going to do,” he said.”
Details of the alleged scam were revealed in a plea deal signed in Houston by Thomas Dodd, who was a campaign worker and 2013 congressional special assistant to the former lawmaker.
Dodd pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of conspiracy and agreed to help authorities build a case against Stockman in return for consideration in sentencing. He faces a maximum penalty for each charge of 20 years.
Stockman was arrested March 16 by a Houstonbased FBI agent as he prepared to board a plane to the Middle East. He was released on $25,000 bail after he surrendered his passport.
Federal prosecutors seek to try him on two counts of conspiracy for allegedly colluding with Dodd and another staffer to hide illegal campaign contributions and to divert $350,000 from the Ed Uihlein Family Foundation, based in Lake Forest, Ill.
Uihlein had donated funds to renovate a townhouse to be used as a place for congressional interns to gather in Washington, D.C. The meeting spot was never created, according to court records.