Former Rep. Mel Reynolds was taken into custody by federal officials Monday upon his arrival at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta from Johannesburg, South Africa, according to a representative of the U.S. Marshals Service.
The former Illinois representative was charged with a misdemeanor earlier this year for failing to file income tax returns from 2009-12, but refused to show up to his initial court hearing. Reynolds, who pleaded not guilty, had claimed he could not leave Africa to handle his U.S. legal affairs because he was caring for his adult daughter, who was dealing with scoliosis and cervical cancer.
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U.S. District Judge John Darrah denied his request to push back the May 2 trial date. Instead, he issued an arrest warrant for Reynolds following his return to the U.S., but did not extradite the former lawmaker.
The 64-year-old was immediately taken before a federal magistrate after being arrested Monday. A judge released Reynolds on his own recognizance. Prosecutors said they expect Reynolds to be in court for the May 2 trial.
It’s not Reynolds’ first legal dilemma. In 1995, he resigned from Congress after being convicted of statutory rape of a minor who had worked on his campaign.
