The federal trial of Senator Tom Libous won’t be moving upstate. He is accused in White Plains of lying to the FBI about using his clout to arrange a high-paying job for his son. He has pleaded not guilty. Libous had asked the federal Judge to dismiss the case or move it to a courthouse in Albany or Binghamton. He said the alleged false statements occurred during a conversation in Albany, and a trial there or elsewhere upstate would be more convenient for Libous, his lawyer and some witnesses. the judge denied the motions yesterday, noting that the indictment stemmed from a grand jury investigation in White Plains and saying White Plains was more convenient overall for all the parties to the trial. However, they agreed to accommodate Libous’ political duties, so the trial date is set for July 13, after the current Senate session. Libous is accused of lying about whether he arranged his son’s job and salary, promised extra business for the law firm and persuaded a lobbying firm to pay part of his son’s salary. His son, Matthew, was convicted last week in a related case of three counts of filing false income tax returns.
