Story Created:
Dec 20, 2007
Story Updated:
Dec 20, 2007
Audio:
• Newsradio 620 WTMJ's Kyle Dlabay's report
• More of McGee's comments to Today's TMJ4's Heather Shannon
Video:
• Complete TMJ 4 interview part 1
• Complete TMJ 4 interview part 2
Alderman Michael McGee, Jr. is speaking out.
"I'm not going to be found guilty. that's my whole stance," said McGee.
McGee has been in jail for several months on allegations of bribery and extortion, as well as threatening to hurt a man.
"I look forward to being acquitted."
McGee spoke with Heather Shannon from Today's TMJ4, saying that he wants to expose the veil of secrecy.
Shannon: "So are you confident that you will be found not guilty in March?"
McGee: "Yes."
He insists that the truth will come out at trial, and he's so confident in the eventual verdict that he's running to retain his aldermanic seat while behind bars.
Shannon: "So that's why you're running again?"
McGee: "I would be plea bargaining right now if I was guilty of any of the things that I've been charged with."
Shannon: "Do you think you can still fairly represent the sixth district from inside jail?"
McGee "Yes. The basic services that people are still getting and I have communication with people who want to do developments. they come visit me here, they send their developments in the mail. I have been more active than even aldermen who are not in custody."
McGee says that his uncle has implicated his father, former Alderman Michael McGee Sr., in an unreleased taped conversation.
Shannon: "So you're saying it wasn't you that was involved, it was your father that was involved?"
McGee: "I don't know if it was him involved, I pray that's not the case, but the tape the state has that was not played clearly shows that I was not involved."
That conversation is apparently about fraud charges for allegedly paying for votes.
