LOS ANGELES — A federal judge in Los Angeles has upheld the conviction of longtime politician Mark Ridley-Thomas, declining Friday to acquit him of all public corruption charges or grant him a new trial.
In a 17-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer rejected the arguments by Ridley-Thomas' lawyers that the jury's verdict against him on charges of conspiracy, bribery, and honest services mail and wire fraud was based on insufficient evidence, improper statements by the prosecutors or other claimed legal defects.
Fischer noted there was "substantial evidence" of Ridley-Thomas' "corrupt intent" and wrote, "The jury could easily find that Defendant knew he was acting corruptly and dishonestly in structuring the $100,000 donation (to USC) in return for his assistance with" a contract sought by the university.
