Changes

On March 28, 2017, Stockman was [[indictment|indicted]] by a federal grand jury for an assortment of financial crimes. He is charged with having obtained $1.25 million under false pretenses from conservative donors and used that money to pay personal expenses and to underwrite his political campaigns. He faced eleven counts of money laundering, eight counts of mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to make "conduit contributions" and false statements, two counts of making false statements to the [[Federal Election Commission]], one count of making excessive contributions, and another count for not disclosing his total income on his 2013 federal tax return. Stockman's trial began March 19, 2018.<ref>Eric Garcia, "Corruption Trial Begins for Former Rep. Steve Stockman", ''Roll Call'', March 19, 2018.</ref> On April 12, Stockman was convicted on twenty-three of the twenty-four felonies for which he was charged. He reaffirmed his innocence but faces potentially decades in prison. After sentencing, he will appeal the verdict.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Former-U-S-Rep-Steve-Stockman-convicted-in-12821521.php|title=Former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman convicted in massive fraud scheme|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|date=April 12, 2018|author=Gabrielle Banks|accessdate=April 13, 2018}}</ref>

On March 28, 2017, Stockman was [[indictment|indicted]] by a federal grand jury for an assortment of financial crimes. He is charged with having obtained $1.25 million under false pretenses from conservative donors and used that money to pay personal expenses and to underwrite his political campaigns. He faced eleven counts of money laundering, eight counts of mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to make "conduit contributions" and false statements, two counts of making false statements to the [[Federal Election Commission]], one count of making excessive contributions, and another count for not disclosing his total income on his 2013 federal tax return. Stockman's trial began March 19, 2018.<ref>Eric Garcia, "Corruption Trial Begins for Former Rep. Steve Stockman", ''Roll Call'', March 19, 2018.</ref> On April 12, Stockman was convicted on twenty-three of the twenty-four felonies for which he was charged. He reaffirmed his innocence but faces potentially decades in prison. After sentencing, he will appeal the verdict.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Former-U-S-Rep-Steve-Stockman-convicted-in-12821521.php|title=Former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman convicted in massive fraud scheme|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|date=April 12, 2018|author=Gabrielle Banks|accessdate=April 13, 2018}}</ref>

Nationally syndicated columnist [[Joseph Farah]] called upon President Trump to [[pardon]] Stockman. Farah said:<blockquote>

Nationally syndicated columnist [[Joseph Farah]] called upon President [[Donald Trump]] to [[pardon]] Stockman. Farah said:<blockquote>

There’s not a corrupt bone in his body. Don’t believe anything else you read about this case anywhere – including [[Fox News]], which hung him out to dry.

There’s not a corrupt bone in his body. Don’t believe anything else you read about this case anywhere – including [[Fox News]], which hung him out to dry.