Omaha Councilman Vinny Palermo, all other suspects ordered to remain detained

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Omaha Councilman Vinny Palermo will remain in Saunders County Jail until trial.

Friday afternoon, a judge decided that Vinny Palermo, Richie Gonzalez and Jack Olson will remain detained on federal charges until trial. The fourth suspect in the case, Johnny Palermo, was already ordered to remain detained after entering a “not guilty” plea.

The four were arrested earlier this month on federal charges, including wire fraud and various financial schemes.

In the Detention Order released Friday, the court stated Palermo posed a “serious risk of obstruction or attempted obstruction of justice, and of actual or attempted intimidation of witnesses.”

Attorneys can still ask the judge to reconsider the decision for them to remain detained at any point.

RELATED: First steps taken to recall Omaha City Councilman Vinny Palermo

Following the judge’s decision for the suspects to remain jailed, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert has once again called for Palermo to resign from his seat on the City Council.

City Council President Pete Festersen also released a statement on Palermo’s detention.

The City Attorney has provided me with today’s detention order from U.S. Magistrate Judge Cheryl Zwart detaining Councilmember Vinny Palermo until his trial date.
This is a very concerning situation and it is difficult to see how Councilmember Palermo can continue to serve under these circumstances. I will be discussing this situation with him when that is possible.
Section 2.05 of the City Charter states that a Councilmember shall be deemed to have forfeited office if he or she is absent from regular Council meetings for three consecutive calendar months without being excused. If the office is forfeited, or should Councilmember Palermo resign before then, the City Council will begin a deliberate and transparent process to fill that vacancy to ensure residents of Council District 4 are represented on the City Council.
In the meantime, the City Council will uphold the revocation of Councilmember Palermo’s leadership position and continue to conduct the city’s business with integrity.
Council President Pete Festersen

District 6 City Councilmember Brinker Harding also called for Palermo’s resignation.

Today it was announced that Vinny Palermo will remain in jail until his trial for federal offenses of criminal conspiracy, fraud, and corruption. Since Omaha’s City Charter calls for removal of an elected official for unexcused absences for a period of three consecutive months this essentially puts an end to Vinny’s ability to remain on Omaha’s City Council.
Each of us are elected to serve all citizens of Omaha, but we are elected by district. And, each district deserves to have equal representation on all matters concerning the City. Therefore, I feel it is incumbent upon Vinny Palermo to immediately resign from the Omaha City Council.
Palermo’s resignation would allow for the most expedient way to find the best person to serve the remaining two years of his term. Waiting for the “three-month clock” to run out (essentially the end of July) would leave District 4 without that voice for too long. The recall effort recently started likely would extend well past that date and would cost the citizens of Omaha to hold a special election. The remaining City Councilmembers could immediately begin the process to select and seat the next District 4 representative.”
District 6 City Councilmember Brinker Harding

District 3 Councilman Danny Begley declined to comment on the matter.

Copyright 2023 WOWT. All rights reserved.