Chapter 19 - The Truth in the Vault**
Three days later, the grand federal courtroom in downtown Richmond was packed with national news reporters and camera crews.
Ethan sat at the prosecution table, wearing a crisp dark suit, holding Maya's hand under the table.
Detective Sarah Jenkins took the witness stand, placing the metal flash drive onto the evidence table in front of the judge.
"Your Honor, this drive contains thirty gigabytes of encrypted financial records and home security footage," Jenkins testified.
"It proves that Senator Reed siphoned twelve million dollars from the Vance Mining Trust over a three-year period."
"It also proves that Samantha Reed systematically abused Maya Miller to force her father into waiving custody rights."
Senator Reed and Samantha sat at the defense table, their high-priced legal team looking down in complete, hopeless silence.
The presiding federal judge hammered his gavel three times, his face stern and unforgiving as he looked at the defendants.
"Richard Reed, Samantha Reed, you are hereby remanded into federal custody without bail pending formal sentencing," the judge ruled.
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Cheers erupted from the gallery as news crews rushed out to broadcast the historic downfall of Ohio's most powerful political family.
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