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What led to Congressman Chris Collins' resignation?

Posted at 8:10 PM, Sep 30, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-30 20:13:04-04

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — On Monday, Congressman Chris Collins (R-Clarence) issued a resignation letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo, one day before he is expected to plead guilty in federal court to insider trading charges.

Below is a timeline describing the events which led up to Rep. Collins' resignation --

June 22, 2017

Rep. Chris Collins, a member of Innate Immunotherapeutics Limited’s board of directors, received an email from the company's CEO. It detailed "extremely bad news" about a clinical trial for a drug called MIS416, a multiple sclerosis drug. Collins then called his son Cameron.

June 23 and 26, 2017

Cameron Collins sold nearly 1.4 million shares of Innate, prior to the results of the clinical trial being made public.

October 12, 2017

The House Ethics Committee has been investigating Collins' involvement with Innate Immunotherapeutics Limited.

August 8, 2018

Rep. Chris Collins, his son Cameron and the father of Cameron Collins' fiancee have all pleaded not guilty to charges of insider trading.

August 11, 2018

Rep. Collins announces in a statement that he will be suspending his campaign for re-election to Congress in New York's 27th District.

September 19, 2018

Collins said that he will "actively campaign for Congress" in a tweet. He added that alongside campaigning, he will also be fighting to "clear my good name in the courts."

October 11, 2018

A federal judge sets February 3, 2020 as the date Rep. Collins will go on trial to face charges of insider trading.

November 6, 2018

Rep. Collins defeats Nate McMurray in race for New York’s 27th Congressional District.

August 6, 2019

A new indictment states three charges have been dropped against Rep. Collins and two against his son, Cameron Collins.

September 30, 2019

Congressman Chris Collins resigns from his seat representing the 27th Congressional District.

October 1, 2019

Collins is expected to plead guilty in federal court to insider trading charges.