State Sen. Emil Jones III’s Testimony in Federal Bribery Trial
Introduction to the Trial
Illinois Sen. Emil Jones III testified Thursday that federal agents asked him to wear a wire against Roseland Community Hospital CEO Tim Egan, a disclosure that derailed testimony in the South Side Democrat’s federal bribery trial for more than an hour.
Disruption in the Courtroom
Jones has occupied the witness stand in the trial ever since Tuesday afternoon. When jurors returned to the courtroom Thursday, they listened to Jones for all of 16 minutes before he made his comment about Egan. Prosecutors objected, prompting a private sidebar among the lawyers with U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood. The sidebar dragged on for about 20 minutes before Wood sent the jury out of the room.
Cause of the Disruption
The judge later called a recess to let lawyers speak with their respective teams. Eventually, the lawyers returned to the courtroom and resumed the sidebar with the judge. When the judge finally summoned the jury back to the courtroom, 70 minutes after Jones made his comment, she told the jury “to disregard the portion of Mr. Jones’ last answer, where he described actions that he was asked to take by the FBI agent.”
Testimony Continues
“That portion of the testimony is stricken,” the judge said. “The jury must not consider that testimony in any way.” Jones did not say why officials would have wanted him to wear a wire against Egan. Calls seeking comment from Egan and Roseland hospital officials were not immediately returned. Egan has not been accused of wrongdoing.
Background of the Case
Prosecutors say Jones agreed to protect a red-light camera businessman in the Illinois Senate in exchange for $5,000 and a job for a former intern. Jones had filed a bill in February 2019 that the executive believed was bad for business. The FBI confronted Jones about the alleged arrangement in September 2019. Jones says he wound up meeting again with FBI and IRS agents twice around February 2020.
Cooperation with the Feds
He decided to cooperate with the feds during the period between those two meetings, Jones testified Thursday. “You know, I was thinking about my career and all the good things I have done,” Jones told the jury, “and I was just confused.” During the second meeting in 2020, Jones testified that officials were “putting several pictures of people, you know, in front of me. And I had to write down who they were and initial it.”
Details of the Cooperation
“Then they put a picture of Tim Egan in front of me,” Jones testified. “He’s the CEO of Roseland Hospital. And Agent [Timothy] O’Brien basically instructed me that he wanted me to wear a wire” on Egan.
Cross-Examination
Despite the hour-long disruption, Jones’ testimony eventually moved on. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Ardam began cross-examining Jones right around noon. She began by asking about Jones’ work history — which largely included state jobs. “When you got these jobs, your father was a senator, correct?” Ardam asked. “Correct, “Jones replied.
Family Connections
“And your father wasn’t just any senator,” Ardam said, “He was the president of the Senate, right?” “Not when I first started working at the Secretary of State,” Jones replied. Jones is the son of former Senate President Emil Jones Jr., who led the chamber from 2003 to 2009. Ardam noted that Jones III, in his testimony this week, “described the Senate president as the ‘boss of the Senate,’ right?”
Controversy Over Senate Seat
“Yes,” Jones III told her. “The guy with all the juice?” she asked, quoting Jones III. “Yes,” Jones III said. Jones III took over his father’s seat in 2009, causing a controversy that Ardam also tried to wade into Thursday. “Were you appointed to fill your father’s seat from August to November 2008?” Ardam asked. “No,” Jones III told her.
Conclusion
The trial of State Sen. Emil Jones III continues, with the senator’s testimony providing insight into the allegations of bribery and corruption. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how the jury will weigh the evidence and determine Jones’ fate.
FAQs
Q: What is State Sen. Emil Jones III accused of?
A: Jones is accused of agreeing to protect a red-light camera businessman in the Illinois Senate in exchange for $5,000 and a job for a former intern.
Q: Who is Tim Egan and what is his role in the case?
A: Tim Egan is the CEO of Roseland Community Hospital, and federal agents allegedly asked Jones to wear a wire against him.
Q: What is the significance of Jones’ family connections in the case?
A: Jones’ father, Emil Jones Jr., is a former Senate President, and Jones III has benefited from his father’s influence in securing state jobs and his Senate seat.
