Former Speaker DiMasi To Ask Court To Dismiss Case

Lawyers for former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi and three co-defendants will ask a federal court to dismiss charges of conspiracy and wire and mail fraud saying the state's public lobbying laws are too vague.

Martin Weinberg, who represents DiMasi's friend and former accountant Richard Vitale, said that if the court finds the laws aren't too vague he will file a second motion to dismiss the case, saying the laws don't apply in this case.

Vitale, DiMasi and two associates are facing federal charges in connection with an alleged bid-rigging scheme for a state software contract that prosecutors say netted DiMasi $57,000.

Weinberg said he's also seeking to bar prosecutors from using e-mails they obtained from Vitale's office computer, saying the e-mails were private.