A Connecticut jury is expected to begin hearing evidence Wednesday in the corruption trial of Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez, who’s charged with taking a bribe and attempted extortion, The Associated Press reports.
Perez’s trial is scheduled to start in Hartford Superior Court. The mayor has denied wrongdoing and vowed to clear his name.
State authorities charged the Democrat in January 2009 with receiving a bribe in the form of home improvements from a city contractor, who also was charged.
He was arrested again in September on allegations that he and former Hartford state Rep. Abraham Giles tried to extort $250,000 from a developer who wanted to buy city-owned property. Giles also denies wrongdoing.
The case will be heard by a six-person jury and is scheduled to last through the end of June.
