Closings continue in Pa. House corruption trial

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The six-week trial of a once-powerful former Pennsylvania lawmaker and three ex-aides is nearing an end.

Prosecutors are scheduled to give closing arguments Friday in the trial of former state Rep. Mike Veon and co-defendants Brett Cott, Steve Keefer and Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink. The jury is expected to begin deliberations later in the day.

In their closing arguments Thursday, lawyers for the four defendants attacked the credibility of witnesses, the quality of the evidence and the prosecution’s handling of the politically charged case.

Veon and his co-defendants are accused of diverting state resources and employees to wage political campaigns. Veon was the second-ranking House Democrat before his defeat in the 2006 election.