SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The arraignment of a former San Francisco city commissioner and two other people on bribery charges was postponed Monday, as prosecutors and defense attorneys argued over disclosing evidence.
Prosecutors say former city commissioner Nazly Mohajer, former city employee Zula Jones and political consultant Keith Jackson accepted $20,000 from an undercover FBI agent in exchange for political access and preferential treatment in the awarding of city contracts.
They have declined to release additional details, citing a federal protective order.
Defense attorneys say a protective order would limit their ability to question witnesses and review evidence.
A San Francisco judge Monday directed both sides to first consult the judge who issued the federal protective order.
The charges against Mohajer, Jones and Jackson stem from a federal investigation that led to charges against more than two dozen people, including state Sen. Leland Yee and Chinatown crime figure Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow, who was convicted of racketeering, murder and scores of other crimes.
Chow’s attorney, Curtis Briggs, said in a court filing in Chow’s case that the FBI alleged that Jones and Mohajer solicited bribes for San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.
Lee has denied the allegation. He has not been charged with a crime.
San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi, whose office is representing Jackson, said after Monday’s hearing that people have a right to know about a public corruption case.
Martha Boersch, Mohajer’s attorney, said she has not been given details about the allegations against her client, but based on the little she does know, she is confident the charges are baseless. A call to an attorney for Jones was not immediately returned.