FRESNO, Calif. — Former U.S. Rep. Terrance John “TJ” Cox pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon to federal criminal charges of wire fraud, money laundering, financial fraud and campaign contribution fraud.
Cox, who surrendered Tuesday morning to FBI agents, addressed U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila Oberto by teleconference from the Fresno County Jail, where he was detained following his arrest. The former Democratic congressman from California was represented on the Zoom videoconference by Fresno attorney Mark Coleman.
Oberto approved a conditional release from jail for Cox. Coleman said his release was expected later Tuesday afternoon. “It’s just a matter of the (U.S.) Marshal Service transporting the documents to the mail for Mr. Cox to sign,” Coleman told The Fresno Bee.
