Lawyer quits indicted official's defense in Ohio bribery case

CLEVELAND (AP) — An attorney for a county commissioner facing bribery charges in Ohio has quit the high-profile case, saying he’s not being paid.

Richard Lillie told a federal judge in Cleveland today that he wants off the defense for Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora because of mounting unpaid legal bills.

Judge Kathleen O’Malley agreed and ruled that Dimora doesn’t qualify for a taxpayer-funded defense. She repeatedly warned him to do more to pay an attorney from his assets.

Dimora said the issue might be resolved by Dec. 31 with his pending application for a loan against his mortgage-free $435,000 home.

Dimora, a former county Democratic chairman, has pleaded not guilty.