State Rep. John Rogers (D-Birmingham) will remain in federal custody through the end of the week, according to reports.
Rogers was arrested on Monday morning after a federal judge revoked his bond.
Government officials have accused Rogers of contacting witnesses, violating his bond conditions.
According to U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona last week, Rogers was ordered not to contact victims or witnesses. Escalona accused Rogers of attempting to contact an unidentified individual known as Individual No. 1, whom Rogers has been accused of trying to bribe into providing false and misleading information to federal law enforcement while under investigation.
Rogers was indicted on one count of obstructing justice and one count of obstruction by bribery in September following a fraud investigation involving a public works fund in Jefferson County. Both former State Rep. Fred Plump, Jr. (D-Fairfield) and Rogers’ assistant, Varrie Johnson Kindall, received federal charges due to the investigation.
Prosecutors with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have accused Rogers of redirecting hundreds of thousands of dollars designated for a youth baseball league run by Plump to Kindall. They also claim Rogers attempted to convince an unidentified individual to lie to investigators with the FBI.
Rogers pleaded not guilty to corruption charges earlier this month and told a media outlet he rejected a plea deal from federal prosecutors. However, Rogers’ attorney, John C. Robbins, told 1819 News he was “not aware” if federal prosecutors offered Rogers a plea deal.
During a second bond revocation hearing on Thursday, Rogers argued that calling the witness was a mistake.
Nevertheless, the judge determined that Rogers’ living argument with Kindall, who serves as his caregiver, is unsuitable, as the two have been legally prohibited from discussing the case.
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