Summit County Councilwoman Tamela Lee’s federal bribery case won’t be decided anytime soon.
U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Boyko granted a request from Lee this week to stay her case pending a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on an unrelated case that also involves bribery.
“All scheduled dates and deadlines are vacated at this time,” Boyko wrote in his order, issued Tuesday.
That means Lee’s trial, already delayed twice, won’t go forward as planned Aug. 22 and no new date has been set.
Lee, 57, of Akron, has been accused by federal authorities of accepting small amounts of cash and goods in exchange for using her political influence to help a local family. She has denied any wrongdoing.
She hasn’t appeared at any council meetings since a judge barred her from having contact with county employees.
Timothy Ivey, Lee’s attorney from the public defender’s office, requested the stay last month. Ivey said the Supreme Court in its decision in McDonnell v. United States will be deciding if it is a felony under the Hobbs Act, the felony bribery statute, to “take ‘official action’ in exchange for money, campaign contributions or any other thing of value.”
The case was argued before the Supreme Court in April. Ivey said the decision will “clarify the scope of ‘official action.’”
“This decision will be fundamental to her (Lee’s) case,” Ivey wrote. “At a minimum, it will literally define the scope of the statutes she is accused of violating. The McDonnell case will shed real light on the scope of charges against Ms. Lee and the defenses to which she is entitled going forward.”
Ivey said a decision in McDonnell is expected by the end of June or beginning of July.
Ivey mentioned in his motion that the government has offered a plea deal to Lee. The deadline for accepting the deal, at least at one point, was May 23. Ivey didn’t provide details of the plea offer.
Lee lost her District 5 council seat in a three-way Democratic primary in March to Assistant Akron Prosecutor David Hamilton. She came in third place, behind Hamilton and former Akron Councilman DeAndre Forney.
Hamilton will face Republican John Sans of Akron in the November general election. The district covers Copley Township and Fairlawn, and parts of Akron and Bath Township.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @swarsmithabj and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/swarsmith.