Shoffner trial postponed

LITTLE ROCK — The trial of former Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner on 14 federal extortion and bribery charges has been delayed because potential jurors cannot travel to the courthouse safely.

Jury selection was to begin Monday morning. The jury pool includes residents from throughout eastern Arkansas, but a winter storm Sunday made many roads in the region impassible.

The U.S. attorney's office said a new starting time has not been set.

Shoffner is accused of accepting $36,000 from a bond broker in exchange for steering state business his way. She faces a separate trial March 31 on charges she misspent campaign funds.

Federal agents arrested Shoffner last year after a broker wore a listening device as he allegedly delivered a $6,000 payment to her. The money was concealed in a pie box.

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