Judge’s illness postpones Fumo trial
The federal corruption trial of State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo has been postponed for a week because the trial judge, U.S. District Judge William H. Yohn Jr., has been hospitalized.
The federal corruption trial of State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo has been postponed for a week because the trial judge, U.S. District Judge William H. Yohn Jr., has been hospitalized.
Yohn, 73, who was appointed to the federal bench in 1991 by President George H. W. Bush, has been suffering from a cough and had complained in court last week about viruslike symptoms.
The final round of jury selection and opening statements had been scheduled for tomorrow morning in the trial, which is expected to last about three months.
An official from Yohn's chambers notified both sides this afternoon that Yohn was hospitalized for tests, and had postponed the trial until next Monday.
Fumo, 65, a Democratic powerbroker in Philadelphia and in Harrisburg for decades, is charged in the sweeping indictment with 139 counts of conspiracy, fraud, obstructing justice and tax violations. His codefendant, Ruth Arnao, the former head of Citizens' Alliance for Better Neighborhoods, is charged with 45 counts.
Both have pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors contend that Fumo defrauded the state Senate by having legislative aides do personal and political work, used Citizens' Alliance as his personal piggybank, and took free trips on yachts owned by the Independence Seaport Museum. When the FBI and IRS investigation heated up, prosecutors contend, Fumo stepped up a long-standing practice of having e-mail deleted and the hard drives of computers wiped clean.
