CINCINNATI — In a recent development, former Cincinnati City Council member Alexander “P.G.” Sittenfeld has received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, as reported by CNN. Sittenfeld, once viewed as a promising candidate for Cincinnati’s mayor, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for bribery and attempted extortion. He served approximately four and a half months before being released during the appeal process.
Sittenfeld’s appeal, initiated in May 2024, seeks to overturn his public corruption conviction. He maintains his position that accepting $20,000 in campaign donations from undercover FBI agents — who posed as developers promoting a downtown redevelopment project — was not illegal, asserting he was simply supporting development in the area.
During his 2022 trial, Sittenfeld acknowledged the possibility of never returning to political life. He was one of three council members charged in a 2020 FBI sting operation focused on public corruption in Cincinnati. This operation involved multiple undercover agents and informants gathering evidence against various elected officials over a two-year period.
In addition to Sittenfeld, former council member Tamaya Dennard was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to honest services wire fraud for accepting bribes. Similarly, former council member Jeff Pastor also admitted guilt on related charges and was sentenced to prison before being released to serve the remainder of his sentence through home confinement.
This marks a significant moment in the ongoing saga of public corruption investigations within Cincinnati, highlighting the complexities of reform and accountability in local government. The outcomes of such cases may pave the way for improved practices in the future.
As this story develops, further updates will provide more details on the implications of the pardon and what it might mean for Sittenfeld and Cincinnati’s political landscape.