New Trial Date Set for Former Abramoff Lobbyist

The Hill reports that ex-Jack Abramoff associate Kevin Ring will again face trial on June 21, 2010.

U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle set the new trial date for the former lobbyist, whose last trial ended after a jury deadlocked on all eight counts of corruption after more than a week in deliberations.

Prosecutors asked for an earlier date for the retrial, possibly in January or February, according to the Associated Press. But the judge considered the scheduled Dec. 8 Supreme Court arguments on the constitutionality of the federal "honest services" fraud statute, which was used to charge Ring.

From the National Journal:

The case will not go to retrial "before I can clear everybody I think are fair witnesses," Huvelle said during Monday's hearing. ... "There are holes, and the holes are being created by these people pleading the Fifth," Huvelle said.

Ring allegedly exchanged thousands of dollars worth of tickets and meals for congressional appropriations and other favors for Abramoff's clients.