Post: Lawyer says political favors 'not unlawful' - Suit re county office space says Tony Knotts shook down developer

Lawyer in Md. suit says political favors 'not unlawful'.
Post, 1 May 2010 (Wiggins).

Summary:

County Council member (and reported county executive candidate) Tony Knotts (D-8) is a defendant in a lawsuit (civil, not criminal case) over a lease for county office space that alleges Knotts shook down the offices' developer. In the end, the county never considered the lease.

Knotts' defense is little more than a claim that everyone does it. Law school professors suggest that the allegations meet the definition of bribery in the state code.

The lawsuit also makes a number of allegations about Jack Johnson, council members Camille Exum (D-7); Marilynn M. Bland (D-9); Ingrid Turner (D-4), and several individuals not named in the report.

The report contains the definition of bribery from the state code and a description of Knotts' alledged request for campaign funds.

[Full report (long)]