Chris Collins (New York politician)

Chris Collins (New York politician)
Name	Chris Collins
Birth date	20 May 1950
Birth place	Schuyler County, New York
Occupation	Politician; Businessman; Lawyer
Party	Republican Party (United States)
Spouse	Mary Collins
Alma mater	Penn State; Syracuse University College of Law
Office	U.S. Representative for New York's 27th congressional district
Term start	2013
Term end	2019

Chris Collins (New York politician) is an American Republican politician, businessman, and attorney who served as the U.S. Representative for New York's western district from 2013 to 2019. A former Erie County native and Syracuse alumnus, he founded and led several private companies before election to the House of Representatives. His career in public life ended amid legal controversy involving federal securities and insider trading laws.

Early life and education

Collins was born in rural Schuyler County and raised in the Finger Lakes region near Ithaca and Buffalo. He attended Penn State, where he studied business and later enrolled at Syracuse University College of Law to earn a Juris Doctor. During his student years he engaged with regional institutions including Cornell University-adjacent communities and professional organizations in Rochester and Jamestown. His formative years connected him to networks spanning New York State politics, Niagara County, and corporate legal practice.

Business career

Before entering elective office, Collins built a portfolio of private-sector ventures and legal work linked to the energy and manufacturing sectors. He co-founded and chaired a biotechnology investment firm that interacted with firms in Toronto, Boston, and San Diego markets. Collins held executive roles at companies with ties to General Electric, Siemens, and regional manufacturers in the Rust Belt corridor, while his law practice represented clients in New York State commercial disputes and transactions. He also served on boards of local development agencies and chambers of commerce that coordinated with the New York Power Authority, Empire State Development Corporation, and municipal economic development offices in Albany and Syracuse. His business activities brought him into contact with venture capital groups in Silicon Valley, pharmaceutical firms in Philadelphia, and agricultural enterprises in Iowa.

Political career

Collins' political trajectory included service as Erie County Republican leader and as a prominent supporter of statewide campaigns, aligning with figures such as George Pataki, Rudy Giuliani, and John Kasich. In 2012 he won the Republican nomination and was elected to the House representing a district encompassing parts of Buffalo suburbs, Niagara Falls, and rural Western New York. In Congress he served on committees that interfaced with the United States Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee, advocating positions consistent with the Republican Study Committee and allies like Paul Ryan and Kevin McCarthy. Collins backed trade and tax measures that related to legislation advanced during the 2016 campaign and the early years of the Donald Trump administration, collaborating with members from districts including representatives from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. He maintained connections with state officials such as Andrew Cuomo and local leaders in Monroe County and Erie County.

2018 indictment, conviction, and resignation

In 2018 federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office unsealed charges alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and insider trading statutes, involving undisclosed information tied to a publicly traded biotechnology company. The indictment referenced communications with executives and family members, and listed interactions involving financial institutions and regulatory filings overseen by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The investigation invoked cooperation from agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and led to a trial in federal court where prosecutors cited evidence drawn from telephone records, transactional data from brokerage firms, and witness testimony. Collins ultimately entered a plea agreement, and in the aftermath he resigned his seat in the House; the case reverberated through congressional offices in Washington, D.C. and state capitols such as Albany and drew commentary from national figures including Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.

Post-conviction developments

Following his resignation, Collins pursued appeals and post-conviction motions in federal appellate courts, engaging attorneys experienced with cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and filings referencing precedents from the Supreme Court. Legal teams developed arguments involving the elements of securities law and the scope of insider trading jurisprudence shaped by decisions in cases involving defendants from Wall Street, biopharma, and corporate governance disputes. The post-conviction period also involved civil inquiries by the Securities and Exchange Commission and ethics reviews by political committees in New York State. Media organizations such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post covered subsequent legal filings and commentary from scholars at institutions like Harvard Law School, Columbia Law School, and New York University School of Law. Civil litigation and settlement negotiations referenced statutes and rulings from the Circuit Courts and engaged experts formerly affiliated with the Department of Justice.

Personal life and community involvement

Collins is married to Mary Collins and has three children; the family has participated in civic organizations across Western New York, including local chapters of Rotary International, Boy Scouts of America, and charitable efforts connected to Catholic Charities. He has supported regional cultural institutions such as the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Strong Memorial Hospital affiliates, while contributing to economic development projects tied to the New York Power Authority and local universities including Canisius College and University at Buffalo. His community profile included fundraising for local libraries, veterans' groups associated with Veterans Affairs, and disaster relief efforts coordinated with the American Red Cross.

Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) Category:New York (state) Republicans