Lawyers for former Arkansas treasurer Martha Shoffner have asked a federal judge to acquit her on bribery and extortion charges, saying prosecutors didn't prove the case against her.
In a court filing Friday, Shoffner's lawyers said no government witness offered proof that interstate commerce was impacted "by robbery or extortion" and that no money changed hands in return for "official acts" by Shoffner.
The lawyers also say there is no evidence the federal government had any interest in Shoffner's conduct nor any interest in the activities of the state treasury department.
Defense lawyers had asked for a directed verdict during Shoffner's trial this month but U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes said he wanted written arguments from lawyers on both sides. Arguments from prosecutors had not yet been filed Friday.
On March 11, jurors found Shoffner guilty of six counts of extortion, one count of attempted extortion and seven counts of bribery. Her sentencing is scheduled to take place after her March 31 trial for mail fraud charges.
Read Saturday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more on this story.
