JERSEY CITY — A former New Jersey lawmaker arrested in last year’s federal corruption sting plans to seek an entrapment defense, according to the Associated Press.
In a court filing Friday, an attorney for L. Harvey Smith notified a federal judge he will argue that a government informant’s dealings with Smith warrant an entrapment instruction to the jury in Smith’s upcoming trial.
Jury selection is scheduled for Nov. 29. Attorneys will make oral arguments on Monday.
Smith, a Jersey City Democrat, faces extortion, bribery and money laundering counts. Nearly half of the 46 people arrested last year have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial. This week, Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez became the first to be acquitted. None of the three defendants to go to trial used an entrapment defense.