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Lawyer Argues Racial Targeting Of Sting Defendant

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa., (CBS) -- During a pretrial proceeding in Harrisburg Friday, the lawyer for a Philadelphia state lawmaker began making the case that charges against his client – one of several elected officials caught in a sting investigation – should be dismissed, because she was the victim of racial targeting.

The sting investigation was revived by Philadelphia DA Seth Williams after Attorney General Kathleen Kane shut it down, saying black elected officials were specifically targeted. Charles Peruto Junior -- the attorney for one defendant, House Democrat Louise Bishop – alleged that the informant in the case had told investigators he could deliver ten officials.

"Four of whom were white… six of whom were black… and the four were never sought."

"There is not a single shred of competent, credible evidence whatsoever that anyone in this case was racially targeted," said Assistant Philadelphia DA Mark Gilson.

The court arguments Friday were about what witnesses the defense will be allowed to call in pretrial proceedings. The judge quashed the defense subpoena of DA Seth Williams but did not rule on several others.

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