City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson and wife Dawn Chavous acquitted in federal bribery trial; Johnson expresses gratitude after verdict
The city councilmember and his wife faced a retrial after a previous jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson leaves the courthouse Wednesday Nov. 2, 2022 after he was acquitted in his federal bribery trial.
Philadelphia City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson and his wife, Dawn Chavous, were acquitted of all charges Wednesday in a federal corruption case.
Prosecutors claimed that Johnson accepted bribes to aid the financially struggling nonprofit founded by legendary music producer Kenny Gamble.
The jury’s decision appeared to affirm defense criticism of the case as one lacking in evidence, with facts “cherry-picked” to reach a predetermined conclusion.
Johnson and Chavous were retried after their first trial ended in a mistrial in April.