The trial of a political consultant accused of using robo-calls to suppress black voter turnout was put on hold until Feb. 23 because a key investigator in the case is ill.
Julius Henson, 62, is the second defendant to be tried in connection with the automated calls, which were placed on Election Day to homes in mostly African American districts by the 2010 gubernatorial campaign of former governor Robert L. Ehrlich (R).
A woman’s recorded voice told voters to “relax” because Gov. Martin O’Malley, the Democratic incumbent, had been successful.
Paul E. Schurick, Ehrlich’s campaign manager, was convicted in December of four counts stemming from his role in authorizing the calls. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 16.
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Emanuel Brown made the decision to delay Henson’s trial Wednesday afternoon, said Jim Cabezas, the chief investigator for the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor.
Pretrial motions got underway Monday, and on Tuesday Brown denied a motion by Henson’s attorney, Edward Smith Jr., to dismiss the charges. Smith had argued that political trickery is free speech.
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