By FRED SHUSTER
LOS ANGELES — A judge heard arguments Monday in former City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas’ bid to have his convictions on federal bribery and conspiracy charges vacated, but no ruling was forthcoming.
Attorneys for Ridley-Thomas argued that prosecutorial misconduct, misstatements of the law and other issues during the longtime Los Angeles politician’s trial ultimately deprived him of his right to a fair trial.
The 68-year-old Ridley-Thomas is facing the prospect of years in prison after being convicted March 30 on single counts of conspiracy, bribery, honest services mail fraud and four counts of honest services wire fraud, stemming from his time serving on the county Board of Supervisors. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 21 in downtown Los Angeles.
Prosecutors responded to defense attorneys’ arguments for acquittal and/or a new trial in court Monday and in a 200-page filing that includes a detailed timeline of events surrounding what the U.S. Attorney’s Office calls a quid pro quo arrangement between the politician and a former head of the USC School of Social Work who pleaded guilty to bribery.
U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer declined to make an immediate ruling, saying she will issue one “as soon as I can.”
In her argument, defense attorney Galia Z. Amram said there was no evidence presented at trial showing that Ridley-Thomas actually performed “an official act” while on the Board of Supervisors in favor of an amendment to a telehealth contract with the county Department of Mental Health that prosecutors claim could have brought the social work school potentially millions of dollars in new revenue.
“The government argued over and over and over again that Mark Ridley-Thomas agreed to do an official act” for Marilyn Flynn, the ex-dean of the USC School of Social Work, by supporting the amendment, Amram said. But, the attorney added, her client did not actually vote for the amendment, which she said was placed…
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