A judge has denied a motion to dismiss two perjury counts against Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon.
The decision makes it more likely that Dixon will face two trials.
Dixon, a Democrat, is accused of lying about lavish gifts from her former boyfriend, a real-estate developer. She's also charged with theft for allegedly stealing gifts cards intended for needy families. She faces trial on the theft charges in November.
Dixon's lawyers argued that the perjury charges should be thrown out because prosecutors improperly used her legislative acts as evidence against her. But the judge ruled that prosecutors did not violate Dixon's legislative immunity by merely presenting evidence that she attended meetings with developer Ronald Lipscomb.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
