Ex-Speaker DiMasi Cites 'Errors' In Appeal

Former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi's appeal of his public corruption conviction will claim the judge in the case made "critical deficiencies and errors" in his jury instructions, among other challenges.

The official paperwork is due Aug. 20, but DiMasi's attorney Thomas Kiley on Friday tipped his hand to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Boston Herald reports that Kiley questions whether the evidence in the case was sufficient to find a "part-time citizen legislator" guilty of agreeing to trade official acts of office for payments; and if the jury was properly instructed by the judge.

The 67-year-old DiMasi is serving an eight-year sentence for steering state contracts to a software firm in exchange for payments of $65,000. He's also battling tongue cancer.