New defense team named to represent former Ohio official

CLEVELAND (AP) — A former county commissioner facing a bribery trial in Ohio has landed a new defense team after months of wrangling over who will pay the bill.

A federal judge appointed Cleveland attorney Anthony Vegh and the Wilmington, Del., federal public defender’s office as co-counsel for former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora.

Public-defender offices in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Detroit couldn’t handle the case.

Dimora must put up $20,000 by Monday toward the cost of his defense. He has claimed he needs taxpayers to pick up the tab, but Judge Kathleen O’Malley says he first must spend his own money.

Her order on the defense appointment was filed Thursday evening.

Dimora has pleaded not guilty.