Montgomery, AL – Defense attorneys have asked a federal judge to prohibit prosecutors from saying the phrase ``double dipping'' during the fraud trial of state Rep. Sue Schmitz.
``Double dipping'' has become a popular phrase at the capital to refer to elected officials who are working for two different public entities. The phrase has often been used to refer to legislators who work in the state's two-year college system.
But defense attorney Jake Watson said use of the phrase by prosecutors would prejudice jurors against Schmitz, a Democrat from Toney.
Prosecutors said in a court filing this week that they would prove Schmitz was paid more than $177,000 by a two-year college system program although she did ``virtually nothing.''
Schmitz goes on trial Monday in Decatur on the federal fraud charges.
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