CHICAGO, IL (Chambana Today) – Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday they plan to retry Illinois State Sen. Emil Jones III after a jury deadlocked in his high-profile corruption case earlier this spring. The Chicago Democrat, son of former Senate President Emil Jones Jr., faces charges of bribery and lying to the FBI stemming from meetings in 2019 with red-light camera executive-turned-informant Omar Maani.
Maani testified that Jones expressed willingness to help with legislation in exchange for a campaign contribution and a job for his former intern, though no money was ultimately exchanged. A secret recording played for the jury caught Jones suggesting a $5,000 donation and lobbying for the intern’s employment.
Despite five government witnesses, including Maani and federal agents, the jury failed to reach a consensus after 23 hours of deliberation, leading Judge Andrea Wood to declare a mistrial in April. On Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Prashant Kolluri said the government intends to retry the case and may call additional witnesses, prompting the judge to consider a longer four-week trial window.
Jones, who testified in his own defense and returned to Springfield following the trial, did not attend Tuesday’s hearing but is expected to appear next week to set a retrial date. He remains under indictment as he faces reelection next year.
Meanwhile, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan also appeared in court Tuesday ahead of his sentencing Friday. Madigan was convicted earlier this year on 10 counts of corruption in a separate federal case.