Defense attorneys offer closing arguments in Pa. Turnpike scandal hearing

Source: The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pa.新蒲崗迷你倉July 16--It appears at least some of the charges against Mitchell Rubin, the former chairman of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, will be headed to trial.Attorneys for Rubin waived arguments relating to a conflict of interest charge. State prosecutors allege that Rubin engaged in a conflict of interest because of his failure to abstain from voting on turnpike decisions involving City Line Abstract Company. The firm paid Rubin more than $200,000 as a consultant from 2006 to 2009.Attorneys for all six defendants in the turnpike's pay-to-play scandal argued that the bulk of the case is built by inferences not supported by evidence presented in court.Each attorney reminded District Judge William Wenner that for the case to proceed, the state needs to prove probable cause in court, and not just in the grand jury presentment.The lengthy preliminary hearing in the case is slated to end tomini storageay. Laurel Brandstetter, the lead prosecutor in the case, will present the state's closing arguments shortly.The state attorney general's office argues that key executives and officials with the turnpike commission applied pressure to win contracts for specific companies and sought donations for political campaigns. Former Turnpike CEO Joseph Brimmeier and former state Sen. Robert Mellow have been charged in the case.Mellow is already serving a federal prison sentence on unrelated charges.Follow PennLive for more updates on the case.To get up to speed on the case, here's a quick guide to important questions in the closing arguments.And this is a detailed look at the case thus far, examining the strengths and weakness of the case for prosecutors and the defense.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Patriot-News (Harrisburg, Pa.) Visit The Patriot-News (Harrisburg, Pa.) at www.pennlive.com Distributed by MCT Information Servicesself storage