Former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi has filed a new motion asking that his federal corruption conviction be set aside.
In the motion filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Boston, DiMasi argues that he received ineffective legal counsel during his 2011 trial and subsequent appeal because his lawyer had a conflict of interest.
Attorney Thomas Kiley, who represented DiMasi, said he had not seen the filing and could not comment.
DiMasi is serving an eight-year prison term. Prosecutors said the Democrat used his political clout to steer state contracts to a software firm in exchange for payments totaling $65,000.
The new motion comes about one year after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear DiMasi's appeal of his conviction on charges including conspiracy, extortion and theft of honest services.
Former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi Seeks Dismissal of 2011 Conviction
The former Massachusetts house speaker said his lawyer had a conflict of interest
Copyright AP - Associated Press
