Former state senator and gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann of Plainview pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal charges that allege he illegally spent more than $200,000 in campaign funds on cars, debts, other personal expenses and pay for himself.
McCann, 51, a Republican state senator from 2011 to early 2019, was appointed a public defender during a hearing after he told U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Eric Long that he was unemployed, being supported by his wife, a traveling nurse, and had credit card debt and loans totaling more than $30,000.
The Macoupin County resident also received the services of a public defender when he was first investigated in 2018 as part of a federal grand jury investigation, assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Bass said during the hearing.