Robocalls trial for consultant postponed

BALTIMORE (AP) - An illness is delaying the trial of a political operative accused of using robocalls to suppress black voter turnout during the 2010 gubernatorial election.

Baltimore Judge Emanuel Brown on Wednesday postponed the trial of Julius Henson, a campaign consultant for former Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich in his rematch with Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley, until Feb. 23. The state's primary investigator is too ill to testify.

The calls told supporters of O'Malley and President Barack Obama to relax because they had won. Henson has said he did not believe the calls were illegal and weren't meant to suppress the vote.

He is charged with two counts of conspiracy to violate election laws and one count each of election fraud and failing to include a campaign authority line on the call.