TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida judge says taxpayers should pay the legal fees of disgraced former House Speaker Ray Sansom.
Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey said Friday that she would side with Sansom.
Dempsey didn't say exactly how much she would award Sansom. He sued the state to recover nearly $1 million stemming from his successful defense of corruption charges.
Sansom was accused of scheming to add $6 million to the state budget for an airplane hangar that would ultimately benefit a political supporter. The charges were dropped by prosecutors after a judge blocked the testimony of a key witness.
His lawyers argued the state should pay his fees because the charges were connected to his actions as a legislator.
In a surprise move Sansom testified on Friday and defended his actions.
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