Sounds like he's finally listening to his counsel and PR people. Here is what many don't understand:

When you have Francis' money, you can really put the legal system through their paces. You can hire the best legal counsel, appeal and appeal, almost buy public sentiment where needed (enough to give a jury the "reasonable doubt" needed despite the venue).

Francis came in way too arrogant knowing the above and flaunting it, so the legal system (which is comprised of humans with feelings and emotions) fought back.

Francis will have a much more tough go of it now, but the bottom line is that he still has the cash to put the legal system though every option over many years. And... there only needs to be one loophole found or one judge who sees his side of things for him to 100% skate. That is not lost on the legal system, who would rather nail him on some stuff than see him walk down the road.

Although Francis is showing the public remorse (as I predicted), he still has more crap to put up with because he has to "pay" for his earlier arrogance.

But he's paving the way for a much more smooth legal future. One where he can cut a deal or plea bargain on the Bay County stuff to a slap on the risk (given the charges).

This paves the way for his counsel to show the IRS that he's cooperative and lets him gets the easiest out (depending on his level of guilt on taxes, if any).

Be interesting to keep watching. Always plenty to learn by watching the ups and downs of others.