Chris Collins (New York politician)
Chris Collins | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2013 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 27th district | |
| In office January 3, 2013 – October 1, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Kathy Hochul (redistricted) |
| Succeeded by | Chris Jacobs |
| 7th Executive of Erie County | |
| In office January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Joel Giambra |
| Succeeded by | Mark Poloncarz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Christopher Carl Collins May 20, 1950 Schenectady, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Collins |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | North Carolina State University (BS) University of Alabama, Birmingham (MBA) |
| Criminal details | |
| Criminal status | Pardoned |
| Criminal charge | Insider trading |
| Penalty | Sentenced to 2 years |
Christopher Carl Collins (born May 20, 1950) is an American politician, businessman, and convicted felon who served as the U.S. representative for New York's 27th congressional district from 2013 until his resignation in 2019. Collins was elected Erie County Executive in 2007 and held that position for one term. A member of the Republican Party, Collins was the first sitting U.S. representative to endorse Donald Trump for president of the United States in 2016, and he served on Trump's first presidential transition team. He resigned his seat in 2019 and afterwards pleaded guilty to insider trading and lying to the FBI.
Collins and his son, Cameron Collins, were arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on August 8, 2018 and charged with insider trading and making false statements. Three days later, Collins announced that he was suspending his bid for a fourth term in Congress; however, on September 17, 2018, he resumed his re-election campaign. Collins was narrowly re-elected to Congress on November 6, 2018. On September 30, 2019, Collins announced his resignation from the House of Representatives. His resignation went into effect on October 1, and he pleaded guilty later that day. Collins began serving a 26-month prison sentence in October 2020, but was pardoned by President Donald Trump on December 22, 2020.