Ear Hustle

Former U.S Rep Mel Reynolds Arrested In Atlanta After Returning From South Africa

Mel Reynolds

Photo Credit: Michael Schmidt/Sun-Times

Former U.S Representative Mel Reynolds was arrested by the Feds at an Atlanta airport. He was returning back to the US after remaining in South Africa to support his daughter who is currently ill. The former US rep missed court appearances which prompt his arrest when he landed back on US soil. Check out the full story below.

Via Chicago Suntimes

Former U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds is in federal custody following his arrest Monday morning at the Atlanta airport, federal authorities confirmed.

U.S. District Judge John Darrah issued an arrest warrant for Reynolds at the end of March after the former congressman missed a court appearance to remain in South Africa at the side of his daughter. Reynolds said she was facing spinal surgery and is possibly suffering from cervical cancer.

Richard Kling, Reynolds’ attorney, said he expects Reynolds would appear in a federal courtroom in Atlanta some time Monday. He is set to go on trial on misdemeanor tax charges May 2 in Chicago.

Reynolds arrived in Atlanta on a flight from Johannesburg, South Africa, U.S. Marshals spokeswoman Belkis Sandoval confirmed. Though he had publicly declared he would return to the United States, his whereabouts were unknown for about 10 days. He also has recited a litany of flaws in the “racist” federal criminal justice system that was forcing him to leave his daughter in her time of need. He faces four misdemeanor counts for failing to file tax returns from 2009 to 2012.

“The judge did not even consider my daughter’s devastating medical situation, it was only his rules that are set up by and enforced by this system that mattered,” Reynolds wrote.

“So I must leave my child to face this alone, because the system excludes her because of her race as someone not to be concerned about.”

Reynolds’ daughter, Marisol E. Reynolds, wrote an open letter to the judge taking responsibility for her father’s absence from court.

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