By PETER JACKSON
Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The second corruption trial of former state House Democratic whip Michael Veon is under way.
In opening statements before a Dauphin County jury, state prosecutors and defense attorneys Thursday painted conflicting pictures of the case against Veon and co-defendant Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink.
Deputy Attorney General Laurel Brandstetter says the defendants illegally diverted more than $170,000 in state economic-development grant money from a nonprofit Veon ran in his Beaver County district and used it for personal and political purposes.
Dan Raynak, Veon's lawyer, says he will prove Veon is innocent and that the state's case is built largely on testimony by witnesses who may have motives to lie.
The 55-year-old Veon is serving at least six years in prison for his 2010 conviction in a related corruption case.
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