Defense: Fla. attorney’s actions not a crime
MIAMI (AP) _ Defense lawyers for a prominent Miami attorney indicted in a drug case claim he shouldn’t be charged at all because the law protects him.
Lawyers for attorney Ben Kuehne told a federal judge Tuesday that key charges should be dismissed because of an exemption in the law. They say the exemption protects defense attorneys from being prosecuted criminally even if they accept fees paid with illegally made money.
The case is being closely watched by defense lawyers nationwide amid concerns about a chilling effect on representing defendants. Kuehne has pleaded not guilty to money laundering and obstruction of justice charges for telling other Miami lawyers that a Colombian drug kingpin had untainted money to pay legal fees. Trial is set for January.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.