Another Republican Ex-congressman indicted...

Ex-congressman Stockman indicted in Texas

By JOSH GERSTEIN

A federal grand jury indicted former Rep. Steve Stockman on Tuesday on charges that he obtained $1.25 million in donations under false pretenses and used funds intended for charity to finance his political campaigns.

Stockman (Republican-Texas) served two terms in the House, most recently representing the the Houston suburbs from 2013 to 2015. He mounted an unsuccessful challenge to Sen. John Cornyn in 2014, coming in second in a crowded GOP primary field.

Stockman, 60, was arrested at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston earlier this month as he attempted to board a flight for the Middle East. A federal complaint filed at that time in U.S. District Court accused him of making false statements to the Federal Election Commission and engaging in political contributions illegally routed through so-called conduits.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Stockman used a Nevada-based non-profit, Life Without Limits, to collect donations for charitable purposes, including for renovating a Washington, D.C., house to be used for the charity. Instead, prosecutors contend, Stockman used much of the funds for personal expenses and directed a portion of the money into his campaign coffers through third parties.

Stockman is also accused of "filing a false tax return that concealed his receipt and use of the fraudulent proceeds," the Justice Department said in a press release.

An attorney for Stockman, Dane Ball, said his client will plead not guilty to the charges.

"Steve is an innocent man," Ball said. "We are reviewing the new indictment, and Steve will respond in court in due course."

At court hearing following his arrest, Stockman blamed his legal predicament on a government conspiracy that targeted him because of his harsh criticism of the Internal Revenue Service.

"This is part of a deep state that's continuing to progress," he said, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Two former aides to Stockman, special projects director Jason Posey and special assistant Thomas Dodd, have also been charged in the case.

Posey was named as a co-defendant in the indictment handed up Tuesday, accused of conspiring with Stockman and of falsifying an affidavit in order to obstruct an FEC investigation. No attorney for Posey was identified in court records.

Last week, Dodd entered guilty pleas to two federal conspiracy charges: one involving wire and mail fraud and another involving false statements to the FEC and making of conduit contributions. Dodd admitted he and Stockman were involved in soliciting hundreds of thousands of dollars for "voter education" activities, but that the funds were actually "diverted to pay for [Stockman's] congressional campaign expenses."

Dodd has pledged to cooperate with prosecutors.