Fumo trial in recess today because of illness

The federal corruption trial of former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo will be in recess today because his lead defense lawyer has the flu.

Defense lawyers notified U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter yesterday that Dennis J. Cogan would not be well enough to attend today's scheduled session. Testimony was scheduled for only Monday and Tuesday of this week because of the Christmas holiday.

Fumo, 65, a powerful Democrat in Harrisburg and Philadelphia for decades, is charged in a sweeping federal indictment with defrauding the state Senate and two nonprofits and trying to obstruct the FBI and IRS investigation.

- Emilie Lounsberry