Fireworks flew in a Hamilton County courtroom as lawyers prepared for the Charlie White criminal trial. White, Indiana’s secretary of state, faces seven felony charges, including voter fraud, perjury and theft. His lead defense lawyer, Carl Brizzi, sees the upcoming criminal trial as an tough task. “Any time someone is charged by the state or federal government for a crime, it’s an uphill battle,” he said. “We talk about a legal presumption of innocence, but i don’t think that really exists out in society.”
Charlie White’s legal problems began when he decided to run for secretary of state in 2010. Democrats pointed out that White lived in a townhouse outside the district he represented on the Fishers Council – which is against state law. White resigned his council seat.
At that time, the Town of Fishers released a statement that included this admission from White: “Because of my statewide campaign for secretary of state and recent marriage, I failed to realize that my new residence was outside my council district. Once notified of the situation, I took immediate action to correct the issue.” Wednesday in court, Brizzi vigorously argued for the opportunity to question a newspaper reporter who printed the quote – saying he wants to verify that it is accurate. The judge is set to rule on that motion next week.
Full Article: Tempers flare at White hearing.