A Service of UA Little Rock
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Defense For Former Arkansas Treasurer Rests Without Calling Witnesses

Martha Shoffner
Michael Hibblen
/
KUAR News

Lawyers for a former Arkansas treasurer charged with corruption have decided against calling any witnesses to the stand.

Closing arguments at Martha Shoffner's federal trial were set for Tuesday morning and jurors could get the case in the afternoon.

Defense lawyers had claimed Monday that the federal government didn't prove its case and asked U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes to order her acquittal. Holmes said he would withhold judgment until after jurors deliberate.

Prosecutors allege Shoffner took $36,000 from a bond broker and steered state business his way.

She also faces a separate trial this month on allegations she misspent money from a campaign account, but her attorneys are seeking a delay.

Defense lawyers contend Shoffner should have faced only state ethics charges.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.