By AP
Oklahoma City, OK – Preliminary hearing begins in Okla. bribery case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A preliminary hearing is under way in for an Oklahoma state representative and a former state senator who face felony bribery charges.
Prosecutors allege that Republican Rep. Randy Terrill of Moore offered former Democratic Sen. Debbe Leftwich of Oklahoma City an $80,000-a-year job at the state Medical Examiner's Office. In exchange Leftwich would not run for re-election to clear the way for Republican Rep. Mike Christian of Oklahoma City to run for the seat.
Terrill and Leftwich deny wrongdoing. Christian was not been charged but is expected to be a witness during the hearing Monday in Oklahoma City.
Leftwich has said she's exempt from prosecution under the state and federal constitutions because she was in the performance of her professional duties as a state senator.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.