A federal judge has agreed to dismiss the five remaining charges against Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O’Donnell.
O’Donnell was acquitted earlier this week on 21 counts of wire fraud, but the jury was hung on five other charges against the former state senator.
Judge Eric Melgren on Thursday granted prosecutors’ request to dismiss the two counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering without prejudice, giving the government the option to re-file the charges in the future.
O'Donnell, a Republican, was indicted last year on 26 counts of wire fraud and money laundering related to campaign expenses. Prosecutors said O’Donnell misused campaign contributions when he was a state senator and candidate for county commission.
Over the course of a five-day trial, his defense attorneys argued that there are no state laws regulating how candidates should pay their staff.
O'Donnell on Monday said he was "very relieved" at the jury's not guilty verdicts.
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