Chris Collins

Despite his guilty plea to insider trading charges in federal court, former Western New York Congressman Chris Collins is free to leave prison following a pardon from President Donald Trump. Former assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Bruce tells WBFO that Collins is no longer a convicted felon, his civil rights fully restored. Throughout his prosecution, Collins claimed innocence. Bruce dispels that assertion, pointing out how Collins had taken a guilty plea to "easily proven, egregious crime."

"It is not the sort of facility that we're used to when we think of prison," said Jerry Zremski, Washington Bureau Chief for the Buffalo News,, as he described the Florida federal prison where former Congressman Chris Collins is scheduled to begin his jail sentence today. In a morning conversation with WBFO, Zremski discussed the prison and how Collins remains defiant over his prosecution on corruption charges. Collins, of course, was sentenced after pleading guilty to the charges earlier this year. 

Disgraced former congressman Chris Collins is once again asking to delay his federal prison sentence given concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Democrat Nate McMurray will take another shot at Congress. After narrowly losing to Chris Collins in 2018, McMurray says he's ready to challenge Republican State Senator Chris Jacobs in a special election for New York's 27th Congressional seat. Erie County Democrats endorsed McMurray last night. This morning, he expressed confidence to WBFO. "I know this place. I know these people."

Critics of disgraced Congressman Chris Collins say he got off lightly when he was sentenced Friday to 26 months in prison for his role in an insider trading scheme.

The Buffalo News is reporting Sunday Collins benefited from a 2005 Supreme Court ruling. Back then, the high court struck down manadatory federal sentencing rules that would have required the judge in Collins' case to sentence him to 46 to 57 months.

Chris Collins will serve more than two years behind bars for the insider trading case that caused his fall from congressman to convicted felon.

Chris Collins will learn his fate Friday afternoon in a Manhattan courtroom. 

Perhaps no one but U.S. District Court Judge Vernon Broderick knows what Collins’ sentence will be, but hundreds of pages of court documents filed over the last week and a half may provide some insight.

Chris Collins’ friends and family repeatedly noted his strong moral compass and Boy Scouts membership in their letters asking a federal judge for leniency.

Prosecutors, in their own letter to the judge, say those facts mean Collins should serve longer.

The special election to fill out former Rep. Chris Collins' term in the 27th Congressional District will apparently be held April 28, the same day the state's presidential primary will be held.

A family man who had a momentary lapse of judgment. A businessman who used public office to increase his personal wealth.

The approximately 170 letters filed in U.S. District Court this week paint very different pictures of disgraced former Congressman Chis Collins. 

A prominent New York Republican said her party can hold the congressional seat vacated by Chris Collins, part of his felony guilty plea to insider trading.

There are many candidates and no official Election Day set to fill the seat vacated by former Rep. Chris Collins. A political newcomer threw her hat into the ring Monday in the closely-watched content.

It seems increasingly likely that a special election for the western New York congressional seat vacated by the disgraced Chris Collins will be held the same day as New York’s presidential primary in April -- and that has Republicans in the state crying foul.

Chris Collins' departure from Congress has opened the door to Washington for an aspiring politician. Several have already announced their candidacies for the 27th district, which covers a large, mostly-rural portion of Upstate New York. For those looking to understand the complexities of the district, Batavia may be a good place to start, so says Howard Owens of The Batavian. Owens' message that Batavia sits at "the heart" of the district seems to be making an impact. State Senator Rob Ortt announced his candidacy in front of city hall and two others--State Senator Chris Jacobs and Grand Island Supervisor Nate McMurray--have sat down for extensive interviews with Owens.