Judge Denies Mistrial for Ex-Greenberg Lobbyist After Mistaken Revelation
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has refused a motion for a mistrial by former Greenberg Traurig lobbyist Kevin Ring, accused of seeking to improperly influence public officials, including Justice Department personnel.
Ring’s lawyers sought a mistrial after the government mistakenly gave jurors information about a plea agreement by another central figure in the case, former Justice Department official Robert Coughlin, according to the Associated Press and Main Justice. U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle denied the request and told jurors to put the information out of their minds.
Coughlin pleaded guilty to conflict of interest to resolve charges that he accepted meals and tickets from Ring to advance the causes of his clients at the Justice Department.
Ring is a law school graduate and the author of a book on the opinions of Justice Antonin Scalia. He is charged with honest services wire fraud, conspiracy, and giving illegal gratuities, according to Main Justice.
Ring’s lawyers argued he stayed within the bounds of the law, according to an earlier story by the Associated Press. Lawyer Andrew Wise told jurors there was no question his client relied on traditional lobbying tools such as meals and tickets to games, but his persuasion was based on politics, “being a relentless pest,” and in some instances, “begging.”
