Nov 9, 2009 3:29 pm US/Eastern
Pol's Legal Expenses Focus Of NJ High Court Case
(CBS)
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Former New Jersey state Sen. Wayne Bryant, the former chairman of the powerful Senate Budget Committee, was convicted of bribery and pension fraud following an eight-week trial. (File)
CBS
New Jersey's Supreme Court is weighing whether a convicted politician can use leftover campaign funds to pay his legal bills.
The high court heard Monday from a lawyer for former state Sen. Wayne Bryant, who was convicted a year ago of bribery and pension fraud. He is currently serving a federal prison term.
Bryant is appealing a ruling by election officials barring the Camden County Democrat from using more than $600,000. The state Election Law Enforcement Commission said criminal defense costs do not count as an ordinary expense for a public office holder.
Bryant lawyer Angelo Genova argued that there is always a risk that a public official will need to defend himself against criminal accusations.
There was no indication when the court would rule.
Bryant served in the New Jersey Senate from 1995 to 2008.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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