Weeks after former Gary Mayor Jerome Prince acknowledged in court documents that he defrauded donors by using campaign funds for his personal expenses, including the purchase of a private residence, American voters effectively pardoned Donald Trump from his Federal charges, and Washington, D.C. voters in Ward 8 re-elected city councilperson Trayvon White who is under investigation.

White was arrested and charged in August for allegedly accepting $156,000 in bribes to extend two city work contracts for an organization. White captured 83.9% of the vote. He holds the seat once held by Former DC Mayor and Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Berry.

After the November 5 USA elections, former Prince George's County Council Member Mel Franklin learned he would spend one year in jail and pay $133,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to illegally using money from his campaign fund for personal use.

Franklin's attorney argued that the former council member had already felt the ramifications of his crimes by losing his reputation and law license. During the period he stole the funds, the defense noted Franklin had experienced personal issues such as the loss of his mother.

However, unlike the others, Prince spared Gary voters of prolonged shame and did not try to justify his illegal behavior.  In his plea agreement, Prince said, "I misled donors by falsely representing and causing to be falsely represented, directly and by omission, that donations made to the Committee to Elect Jerome Prince for Mayor campaign committee were being used for campaign purposes, when, in fact, I used a portion of the money provided by donors to the Committee to Elect Jerome Prince for Mayor campaign Committee for my own personal purposes, including using committee funds as part of the real estate transaction to finance the purchase of my personal residence."