Federal Judge Deems Former Chicago Alderman Accused Of Bribery Unfit For Trial

A national judge ruled that a 76-year-old erstwhile Chicago alderman accused of bribery and lying to nan FBI is unfit for trial, saying it would person an "adverse effect" connected her health. 

Carrie Austin was indicted by a national expansive jury successful July 2021 "for allegedly colluding to person location improvements from building contractors seeking metropolis assistance for a improvement project" successful her Far South Side ward, nan U.S. Attorney's Office for nan Northern District of Illinois said astatine nan time. 

Austin, who spent astir 30 years connected nan Chicago City Council earlier resigning successful 2023, pleaded not blameworthy to nan charges, according to Fox32 Chicago. Her attorneys based on that nan trial, scheduled for November 2025, should beryllium postponed indefinitely arsenic Austin was dealing pinch superior wellness problems specified arsenic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bosom ailments and cancer, nan position added. 

"Merely nan enactment of showering aliases stepping from room to room successful her location is strenuous for nan Defendant, truthful location is nary uncertainty that walking to and from nan courthouse, sitting successful proceedings each day, and walking to meet pinch her attorneys astatine night, moreover pinch nan assistance of a scooter, will person an ‘adverse effect’ connected her wellness compared to resting astatine location arsenic she presently does astir of nan time," Judge John Kness was quoted arsenic saying successful his ruling, aft consulting pinch doctors. 

CHICAGO MAYOR VOWS CITY POLICE ‘WILL NOT EVER COOPERATE WITH ICE’ 

Former Chicago Alderman Carrie Austin was ruled unfit for proceedings by a judge, Fox32 Chicago reported. (Fox32 Chicago)

Federal prosecutors said Austin was charged pinch 1 count of colluding to usage interstate accommodation to beforehand bribery, 2 counts of utilizing interstate accommodation to beforehand bribery, and 1 count of willfully making materially mendacious statements to nan FBI. 

"According to nan indictment, starting successful 2014 a building institution planned to conception a residential improvement successful Austin’s ward astatine a costs of astir $49.6 million," nan U.S. Attorney’s Office said. 

It added that opening successful 2016, Austin and her main of staff, Chester Wilson, "were provided pinch individual benefits by nan proprietor of nan building institution and different contractors successful an effort to power them successful their charismatic capacities." 

OUSTED DEM 'SUPER MAYOR' CHARGES WHOPPING PRICE TAG FOR TELL-ALL BOOK WHILE DODGING LEGAL TROUBLES 

Chicago Chief Financial Officer Lois Scott, from left, Alexandra Holt, Budget Director, and Ald. Carrie Austin, 34th, Budget Committee Chairman, perceive to a mobility during an Oct. 28, 2013 gathering of nan metropolis assembly fund committee successful Chicago, Ill.  (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

"According to nan charges, successful June 2017 a contractor connected nan improvement task paid an invoice for $5,250 to screen a information of nan acquisition value of room cabinets astatine Austin’s residence by falsely representing that nan cabinets were for an reside wrong nan development," prosecutors said. "In addition, successful July 2017 Austin accepted from a contractor connected nan task an connection to salary for 2 ‘brand new’ and ‘expensive’ sump pumps, and to person nan contractor’s family personnel bargain and instal a caller dehumidifier, nan indictment states." 

In 2021, Austin collapsed during a City Council gathering because of her lung conditions and was rushed to a hospital, Fox32 Chicago reported, citing tribunal documents. 

The position said years later, national prosecutors tried to refute her claims of being medically unfit, arguing a surveillance video showed Austin stepping successful and retired of a salon without help. 

Austin served connected nan Chicago City Council for astir 30 years.  (Getty)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

However, Judge Kness yet ruled her unfit for trial, noting that Austin’s existent authorities would make it difficult for her to meet pinch her ineligible squad and participate successful her ain defense.