Supreme Court Vacates Former Cincinnati Councilman's Conviction

Washington – On April 6, 2026, the United States Supreme Court issued an order that effectively erases the federal bribery and extortion conviction of former Cincinnati City Council member Alexander “P.G.” Sittenfeld. The high court declined to hear the merits of his appeal, but vacated the Sixth Circuit’s ruling upholding the verdict and remanded the case for further consideration of the Department of Justice’s motion to dismiss the indictment in light of President Donald Trump’s May 2025 pardon.

Background

In 2022, Sittenfeld was found guilty of accepting $20,000 in campaign contributions from undercover FBI agents and of attempted extortion. He was sentenced on two counts of honest‑service wire fraud, bribery and extortion. In May 2025, Trump pardoned Sittenfeld on one bribery and one extortion count, but the conviction remained on his record, prompting a petition for a writ of certiorari.

Supreme Court Order

The justices granted the petition, nullified the appellate court’s holding and sent the matter back to the Sixth Circuit to address the pending motion to dismiss the indictment. Legal analysts say the move clears the way for a final dismissal, restoring Sittenfeld’s status as a non‑felon.

The decision underscores the limited scope of presidential pardons and signals how the courts may treat lingering convictions after a pardon.