Andrew Gillum trial Day 3: FBI agent grilled about 'party favors,' Hamilton tickets

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The undercover FBI agent who posed as "Mike Miller" during the bureau's investigation of corruption in the Capital City was on the stand again on the third day of the trial of Andrew Gillum and Sharon Lettman-Hicks.

Miller, the first witness called by the government, wrapped up his testimony Tuesday after he was cross-examined by the defense. Fellow undercover agent Brian Butler is expected to take the stand next.

Gillum, former Tallahassee mayor and the 2018 Democratic nominee for Florida governor, and Lettman-Hicks, his longtime mentor and owner of P&P Communications, are charged with illegally soliciting campaign donations and pocketing them in their own accounts. Gillum also is charged with lying to the FBI about gifts undercover FBI agents gave him during a 2016 trip to New York City.

Here are the latest developments in the trial (this story will be updated):

Decoding the indictment ABCs: Guide to the people, organizations in Andrew Gillum trial

Andrew Gillum trial Day 1: Jury selected, possible witnesses and an appeal to raise $1M

Gillum Trial Day 2 opening arguments: Money as a motive or forcing the evidence?

FBI agent Mike Miller says he asked lobbyist for ‘party favors and co-eds’

Undercover FBI agent Mike Miller, who posed as an out-of-town developer who wanted to pay bribes to local officials to guarantee their support on projects, testified this morning that he asked lobbyist Adam Corey to procure “party favors and co-eds” for another FBI agent, Mike Sweet.

His testimony came during cross-examination by David Markus, one of Andrew Gillum’s lawyers.

“I told (Corey) he would need to line that up,” Miller said. “He does get us cocaine.”

Back story: Andrew Gillum opens up about cutting ties with lobbyist friend Adam Corey and Mike Miller

Markus also mentioned an internal FBI email that appeared in recent court filings saying the bureau hoped to “dirty up” Corey by supplying him with drugs to the federal crime level and hoping he would roll on local officials.

Corey was a close friend of Andrew Gillum whom the undercover agents hired to make introductions to local officials after they arrived in Tallahassee starting in 2015.

Sweet posed as a former pot dealer turned legit medical marijuana entrepreneur. Though he was a start witness for the government in the trial of John “J.T.” Burnette in 2021, he is not expected to testify during Gillum’s trial. He was accused of buying a lap dance and a sex act to be performed on Scott Maddox during a trip to Las Vegas. He acknowledged paying for the lap dance but denied paying for prostitution.

Gillum lawyer questions FBI agent about New York trip

Markus also grilled Miller about the August 2016 trip to New York, where FBI agents met up with Andrew Gillum, his younger brother Marcus Gillum and Corey. The FBI bought them tickets to “Hamilton,” sprang for a boat ride to the Statue of Liberty and paid for hotel rooms for the Gillums and Corey, though Andrew Gillum stayed only one night, he said.

Attorney for Andrew Gillum, David Markus, questions FBI agent agent Mike Miller, whose face is blurred per court protocol.
Attorney for Andrew Gillum, David Markus, questions FBI agent agent Mike Miller, whose face is blurred per court protocol.

Gillum’s lawyer asked whether there was any allegation that the “Hamilton” ticket was a bribe.

“There was no ask from us,” Miller said. “There’s no bribe.”

Markus also asked about two female FBI agents who joined them on the boat ride and booze Miller brought to stock the boat. Miller said one of the women posed as his ex-girlfriend, who lived in the New York area.

“It was just adding layers to the reality of our story,” Miller said.

“Were the women attractive?” Markus asked.

“I think they’re both attractive ladies,” Miller responded.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Grogan, questioning Miller on redirect, asked whether it’s a federal offense to lie about getting a ticket to “Hamilton.” Miller said it was crime to lie to a federal officer.

Gavel to gavel coverage

While cameras and electronics are not allowed in the courtroom, stay tuned to tallahassee.com for daily updates from longtime investigative reporter Jeff Burlew (@jeffburlew on Twitter).

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Andrew Gillum trial: FBI agent grilled about cocaine, Hamilton tickets