{"id":30439,"date":"2020-10-04T13:57:39","date_gmt":"2020-10-04T17:57:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/?p=30439"},"modified":"2020-10-04T13:57:56","modified_gmt":"2020-10-04T17:57:56","slug":"rochesters-corrupt-mayor-indicted-for-felony-finance-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/?p=30439","title":{"rendered":"Rochester&#8217;s Corrupt Mayor Indicted for Felony Finance Fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren indicted in felony campaign finance fraud<\/h1>\n<p><!--more-->Gary Craig and Brian Sharp<br \/>\nRochester Democrat and Chronicle<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">ROCHESTER, NY\u00a0\u2014 Mayor Lovely Warren has been\u00a0indicted on two felony campaign finance charges, Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley announced Friday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The first charge is for first-degree scheme to defraud; the second is an election law offense for illegally coordinating activities and expenditures.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The grand jury indictment is connected to Warren&#8217;s 2017 mayoral re-election campaign. Warren has adamantly refused any wrongdoing in the matter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Warren and two campaign associates also indicted Friday will be arraigned at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, in front of Cayuga County Judge\u00a0Thomas Leone in Monroe County.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">If convicted of the felony charges, Warren\u00a0would be removed from office\u00a0<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nysenate.gov\/legislation\/laws\/PBO\/30\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t-l=\"|inline|intext|n\/a\">under state law<\/a>. The maximum sentence would be 16 months to four years in prison, but Warren would be unlikely to be incarcerated. Her pension could be forfeited, however, if the matter is determined to be a crime related to public office, and she also could lose her law license.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img gnt_em_img__inset\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/10\/11\/PROC\/e7d0d690-787c-454a-ad74-12b628b49f44-Mayor-Lovely-Warren-8X12_2019.jpg?width=300&amp;height=445&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/10\/11\/PROC\/e7d0d690-787c-454a-ad74-12b628b49f44-Mayor-Lovely-Warren-8X12_2019.jpg?width=600&amp;height=890&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"Lovely Warren is mayor of Rochester, N.Y.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Lovely Warren is mayor of Rochester, N.Y.\" data-c-credit=\"Provided\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The unsealing of the indictment Friday equates to an announcement of criminal charges, not a conviction, but adds another major crisis for the already embattled mayor. Her term ends next year and she surely will\u00a0face intense intra-party competition if she chooses to run again. Her attorney, Joseph Damelio, said Friday that she would.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Also indicted Friday were Warren\u2019s campaign treasurer,\u00a0Albert Jones Jr., and Rosiland Brooks-Harris, the treasurer of the\u00a0political action committee Warren for a Strong Rochester. Brooks-Harris is also the city\u2019s finance director.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"~ad-slot-7103-ny-rochester-C1070-native-article_link-news-2\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">&#8220;If mistakes were made, they were honest mistakes,&#8221; Damelio said. &#8220;The type of mistakes that we make in our job every day &#8230; nothing underhanded, nothing sinister, nothing like that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong class=\"gnt_ar_b_al\">What everyone&#8217;s saying:<\/strong><a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.democratandchronicle.com\/story\/news\/2020\/10\/02\/lovely-warrens-indictment-draws-varied-reaction-rochester\/3595994001\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t-l=\"|inline|intext|n\/a\">Lovely Warren&#8217;s indictment draws varied reactions from officials<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Defense lawyers questioned whether jurors might have been swayed by current events\u00a0\u2014 their deliberations coincided with protests and calls for Warren&#8217;s resignation over\u00a0<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.democratandchronicle.com\/story\/news\/2020\/09\/17\/city-council-provide-framework-prude-investigation\/3481628001\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t-l=\"|inline|intext|n\/a\">the death of Daniel Prude<\/a>, who was asphyxiated while being restrained by police.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">&#8220;It&#8217;s not good publicity that&#8217;s for sure,&#8221; Damelio said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Warren has faced increasing questions in the last month about her honesty with her claims that she was not informed by her staff until August of all of the facts surrounding Prude&#8217;s death.\u00a0Campaign finance regulations are, however, a very different matter than the alleged homicide of an unarmed citizen, and County Legislator Rachel Barnhart has said she worries that the public will be slow to digest the occasionally arcane and dry topic and criminal allegations.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_tw\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadTwitter\" data-v-id=\"1312123426757206016\" aria-label=\"Twitter Embed\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" class=\"\" title=\"Twitter Tweet\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/index.html?creatorScreenName=DandC&amp;dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1312123426757206016&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.democratandchronicle.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2020%2F10%2F02%2Flovely-warren-indicted-rochester-mayor-accused-campaign-finance-fraud%2F5892804002%2F&amp;siteScreenName=DandC&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=ed20a2b%3A1601588405575&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"1312123426757206016\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Barnhart raised the possible violations in her unsuccessful 2017 mayoral race against Warren. She and another Democratic primary challenger, former Police Chief James Sheppard, filed complaints with the state Board of Elections.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/-mm-\/ed7130d2184de2d675ac2e5fe9758e0626cce863\/c=112-210-1368-920\/local\/-\/media\/2016\/09\/07\/Rochester\/Rochester\/636088407067349918-Rachel-Barnhart-preferred-.jpg?width=660&amp;height=374&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Rachel Barnhart\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Rachel Barnhart\" data-c-credit=\"Provided\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThis is very sad and will plunge our city into further crisis,\u201d Barnhart said. \u201cWe have to understand, however, why this is happening.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cCampaign finance laws exist to protect our elections and make sure there is transparency. The magnitude of these violations is nothing short of cheating.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong class=\"gnt_ar_b_al\">More:<\/strong><a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"http:\/\/www.democratandchronicle.com\/story\/news\/2018\/12\/07\/lovely-warren-campaign-spending-subpoena-rochester-ny-mayor-james-sheppard-rachel-barnhart\/2239308002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t-l=\"|inline|intext|n\/a\">DA&#8217;s Office investigating Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren campaign spending<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">At a recent news conference Warren called the campaign finance allegations a \u201cpolitical witch hunt.\u201d\u00a0Damelio, has said the length between the time of the Barnhart-Sheppard allegations and the recent investigation that led to the indictments shows the flimsiness of the criminal case.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img gnt_em_img__inset\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/10\/02\/PROC\/cc25fde1-d895-48b7-9dfc-dd0d15681883-Rosalind_Brooks-Harris.jpg?width=300&amp;height=450&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/10\/02\/PROC\/cc25fde1-d895-48b7-9dfc-dd0d15681883-Rosalind_Brooks-Harris.jpg?width=600&amp;height=900&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"Rosiland Brooks-Harris, Finance Director for the City of Rochester.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Rosiland Brooks-Harris, Finance Director for the City of Rochester.\" data-c-credit=\"Communications-City Of Rochester NY\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">Warren&#8217;s PAC exceeded limits, prosecutors allege<\/h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">In particular, Warren and her campaign aides are accused of illegally using the political action committee, or PAC, to bolster campaign finances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know the intent of creating the PAC, but certainly it wasn&#8217;t to circumvent election law,&#8221; Damelio said, later suggesting it was to support community programs. &#8220;Lovely Warren didn&#8217;t need any more money to win her election. She won by huge numbers. She wasn&#8217;t in danger of losing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">If a PAC gives money to a candidate for office, it faces the same state-imposed restrictions as any other donor \u2013 a limit of $8,557 in 2017. But Warren\u2019s PAC exceeded the limits and illegally bolstered her campaign, prosecutors allege.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Doorley would not say how much money was involved in the alleged fraud but said the sum is &#8220;substantial,&#8221; with prosecutors implying it could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_tw\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadTwitter\" data-v-id=\"1312094495991832576\" aria-label=\"Twitter Embed\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" class=\"\" title=\"Twitter Tweet\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/index.html?creatorScreenName=DandC&amp;dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1312094495991832576&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.democratandchronicle.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2020%2F10%2F02%2Flovely-warren-indicted-rochester-mayor-accused-campaign-finance-fraud%2F5892804002%2F&amp;siteScreenName=DandC&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=ed20a2b%3A1601588405575&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"1312094495991832576\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Warren has maintained that any transfers were an unintentional error, a claim that would likely be the foundation of her criminal defense. Doorley responded on Friday: &#8220;The indictment alleges otherwise, and that&#8217;s what we will be handling in the courtroom.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Prosecutors will need to show that the PAC was knowingly used illegally, and that Warren, Jones, and Brooks-Harris purposefully committed fraud with their handling of campaign funds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Sources have told the<em>\u00a0Democrat and Chronicle<\/em>\u00a0that campaign donors and others testified before the grand jury, but it\u2019s unclear how donors would have a sense of the use of campaign funds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">However, former lobbyist Robert Scott Gaddy, who worked with Warren in the office of the late Assemblyman David Gantt, has claimed that he and a lawyer who specializes in campaign finance alerted Warren to the potential illegality and Warren intentionally disregarded the advice.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/-mm-\/2bfa0fc91234e7224048c0714c99e7ef375742e7\/c=0-234-2289-1527\/local\/-\/media\/2016\/07\/06\/Rochester\/Rochester\/636034217290906547-Gaddy.jpg?width=660&amp;height=373&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/-mm-\/2bfa0fc91234e7224048c0714c99e7ef375742e7\/c=0-234-2289-1527\/local\/-\/media\/2016\/07\/06\/Rochester\/Rochester\/636034217290906547-Gaddy.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=746&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"Robert Scott Gaddy\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Robert Scott Gaddy\" data-c-credit=\"David Riley\/@rilzd\/staff Photographer\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.democratandchronicle.com\/story\/news\/2020\/09\/16\/robert-scott-gaddys-plea-may-aid-investigation-lovely-warren\/5817151002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t-l=\"|inline|intext|n\/a\">Gaddy agreed to testify in the grand jury proceedings<\/a>\u00a0as part of a plea agreement to resolve federal allegations that he and late Assemblyman Joseph Errigo were involved in a bribery plot to try to derail a Brighton project in a sting manufactured by the FBI. The lawyer, Pittsford town justice Robert Shaddock, was also expected to testify before the grand jury.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">Investigation stalled<\/h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The length of the investigation could be explained in part because it has, at times, been a collaborative effort with the District Attorney\u2019s Office and the state Board of Elections.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"~ad-slot-7103-ny-rochester-C1070-native-article_link-news-4\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The state Board of Elections and Monroe County District Attorney&#8217;s Office first met in March 2018 about complaints the state received from Barnhart and Sheppard. In March 2020 the Board of Elections reported its findings to Doorley, who proceeded with the criminal case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Doorley acknowledged earlier this year that her office had issued subpoenas in the campaign finance investigation, but she declined to comment further.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">This was at least the\u00a0second round of subpoenas. The\u00a0<em>Democrat and Chronicle<\/em>\u00a0reported in December 2018 that vendors who were contracted by the Warren campaign or political action committee\u00a0<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"http:\/\/www.democratandchronicle.com\/story\/news\/2018\/12\/07\/lovely-warren-campaign-spending-subpoena-rochester-ny-mayor-james-sheppard-rachel-barnhart\/2239308002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t-l=\"|inline|intext|n\/a\">had been subpoenaed for campaign-related records<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The joint investigation was delayed not only by the coronavirus pandemic but also by a decision in 2018 about the Board of Elections&#8217; investigative powers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Late that year, the state Board\u00a0of Elections voted to curtail the power of the board&#8217;s lead investigative counsel, Risa Sugarman. The board ruled that her office could not issue subpoenas without board review.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Sugarman sued to revoke the rules, but her lawsuit was dismissed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Damelio said the Warren campaign had been working with the state Board of Elections for three years, but &#8220;things definitely changed in the last six months.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">&#8220;We can&#8217;t comment on that,&#8221; he said, &#8220;because we have no idea why.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">Timeline<\/h3>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>Oct. 2, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Two-count indictment handed up against Warren and two associates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>Sept. 16, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.democratandchronicle.com\/story\/news\/2020\/09\/16\/robert-scott-gaddys-plea-may-aid-investigation-lovely-warren\/5817151002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t-l=\"|inline|intext|n\/a\">Robert Scott\u00a0Gaddy&#8217;s plea in bribery case delivers more bad news for Mayor Lovely Warren<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>March 6, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Board of Elections present report of alleged campaign finance violations to District Attorney&#8217;s Office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>Feb. 25, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">District Attorney&#8217;s Office shares investigative materials with Board of Elections &#8220;for analysis and recommendation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>Dec. 27, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.democratandchronicle.com\/story\/news\/2018\/12\/27\/next-steps-investigation-warrens-campaign-funds-could-months-away\/2377058002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t-l=\"|inline|intext|n\/a\">Next steps in investigation of Mayor Warren&#8217;s campaign funds could be months away<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>Dec. 23, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">What you need to know<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.democratandchronicle.com\/story\/news\/2018\/12\/23\/60-seconds-mayor-warren-da-and-pac\/2292529002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t-l=\"|inline|intext|n\/a\">: Mayor Warren, the DA and the PAC<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>Dec. 7, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.democratandchronicle.com\/story\/news\/2018\/12\/07\/lovely-warren-campaign-spending-subpoena-rochester-ny-mayor-james-sheppard-rachel-barnhart\/2239308002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t-l=\"|inline|intext|n\/a\">DA&#8217;s Office investigating Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren campaign spending<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>March 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Board of Elections, Monroe County district attorney meet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>July 19, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.democratandchronicle.com\/story\/news\/2017\/07\/18\/warren-shows-commanding-cash-lead-over-other-mayoral-candidates\/487788001\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t-l=\"|inline|intext|n\/a\">Warren shows commanding cash lead over other mayoral candidates<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>July 14, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.democratandchronicle.com\/story\/news\/local\/columnists\/andreatta\/2017\/07\/14\/andreatta-elections-board-could-settle-warren-campaign-questions-now\/481007001\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t-l=\"|inline|intext|n\/a\">Andreatta: Elections board could settle Warren campaign questions now<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>April 20, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">State Board of Elections receives first complaint about Warren&#8217;s campaign finance activities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>2015<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Lovely Warren founded Warren for a Strong Rochester.<\/p>\n<p>___<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.democratandchronicle.com\/story\/news\/2020\/10\/02\/lovely-warren-indicted-rochester-mayor-accused-campaign-finance-fraud\/5892804002\/\">https:\/\/www.democratandchronicle.com\/story\/news\/2020\/10\/02\/lovely-warren-indicted-rochester-mayor-accused-campaign-finance-fraud\/5892804002\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren indicted in felony campaign finance fraud<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30439"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30439\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}