Former Arkansas Lawmaker To Face Retrial On Federal Bribery Charges

By DEBRA HALE-SHELTON/ ARKANSAS NONPROFIT NEWS NETWORK

Federal prosecutors plan to retry former lobbyist and political fundraiser Gilbert Baker on bribery and other charges after a mistrial earlier this month.

On Aug. 12, a jury on its fifth day of deliberations acquitted Baker, a former state senator from Conway and former chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas, of one count of conspiracy. The jury deadlocked on eight other charges, including one count of bribery and seven of wire fraud.

In its notice to the court Thursday, the U.S. attorney’s office stated only that it intended to retry Baker and did not elaborate on what may have led prosecutors to that decision. The office had earlier sought and been granted permission to interview jurors who heard from the first trial who were willing to discuss the matter. Such interviews could have given prosecutors information on how jurors were divided on the case and why.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/former-arkansas-lawmaker-face-retrial-federal-bribery-charges

Gilbert Baker (right) and his attorney, Blake Hendrix, exit the U.S. courthouse in Little Rock during Baker’s first trial.

CREDIT BRIAN CHILSON

Defense Focuses On Disgraced Judge’s Credibility As Baker Bribery Case Goes To Jury

By DEBRA HALE-SHELTON/ ARKANSAS NONPROFIT NEWS NETWORK

Jurors in the bribery trial of former lobbyist Gilbert Baker went home for the weekend after hearing closing arguments and deliberating less than two hours Friday afternoon.

Deliberations will resume Monday morning in U.S. District Court in Little Rock. Jurors have endured two weeks of testimony, more than a little legal jargon, and two coronavirus scares that sent one former juror and a prosecutor home with the virus and led to all trial participants being tested for it.

Baker, a former chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas, is charged with bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy. He is accused of being the middleman in an alleged plot in 2013 to bribe former Faulkner County Circuit Judge Mike Maggio on behalf of Michael Morton, a wealthy nursing-home owner and campaign financier from Fort Smith.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/defense-focuses-disgraced-judge-s-credibility-baker-bribery-case-goes-jury

Defendant Gilbert Baker exits the U.S. courthouse on Friday afternoon.

CREDIT BRIAN CHILSON / ARKANSAS NONPROFIT NEWS NETWORK

Arkansas State Supreme Court Justice Testifies In Bribery Trial Of Former Lawmaker

By DEBRA HALE-SHELTON/ ARKANSAS NONPROFIT NEWS NETWORK

Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Wood testified Tuesday that she never talked with former Circuit Judge Michael Maggio about his decision to alter a jury’s award in a nursing home negligence case in 2013 — a ruling that led to Maggio’s imprisonment and to federal bribery charges against former lobbyist Gilbert Baker.

Wood’s testimony for the prosecution came near day’s end at Baker’s trial in U.S. District Court in Little Rock. She is to continue testifying Wednesday.

Wood’s statement contradicts defense attorney Annie Depper’s assertion during opening statements Monday that Maggio had “struggled” with the 2013 ruling so much that he consulted with Wood, Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox and a law clerk about the decision.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-state-supreme-court-justice-testifies-bribery-trial-former-lawmaker

CREDIT KUAR NEWS