Feds charge 3rd Cincinnati councilman with corruption

CINCINNATI (AP) — A Cincinnati city councilman who has been planning to run for mayor has been indicted on federal corruption charges.

An indictment Thursday shows that Democrat P.G. Sittenfeld faces six federal counts related to bribery and extortion. It states that Sittenfeld solicited $40,000 in payments to his political action committee to “deliver the votes” in the city council for a proposed downtown real estate development.

U.S. Attorney David DeVillers discussed the case at a news conference late Thursday morning. He said FBI agents had arrested Sittenfeld. His whereabouts weren’t made public immediately. A voice mail for comment was left at his council office, and an email was sent without immediate response.

Earlier this year, Democrat Tamaya Dennard resigned from city council after her arrest. She is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to a wire fraud-related charge. Republican Jeff Pastor was arrested Nov. 10 on bribery, extortion and money laundering charges. His attorney has said the councilman will fight the charges.

Cincinnati will have elections in 2021, including for mayor. Democratic Mayor John Cranley is term-limited.

Sittenfeld, who finished far behind former Gov. Ted Strickland in the 2016 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, had been considered a top contender to succeed Cranley. Strickland lost in the general election to Republican Sen. Rob Portman.

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Farnoush Amiri is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues

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