KNOXVILLE (AP) - The U.S. Attorney's Office in Knoxville calls a disgraced judge's argument for dismissal of charges "novel," but asks the court to deny it.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bolitho's responded to a motion for dismissal of charges filed by attorneys for former Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner.
The former judge pleaded guilty to official misconduct, resigned from the bench and his law license has been revoked.
The defense motion claimed Baumgartner committed no federal crime because he did not lie to federal agents.
Baumgartner is charged with seven counts of lying to various people, including state court officials, to cover up his mistress' drug-trafficking activities.
He is scheduled for federal trial in October.
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Richard Baumgartner in June
