Jury chosen for ex-GOP chief’s trial

11/08/2005

Eibensteiner accused of taking illegal donation

BY PATRICK SWEENEY
Pioneer Press

Opening statements will be heard today in Rochester, Minn., in the criminal trial of former Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Ron Eibensteiner.

A six-member jury and two alternates were selected Monday to hear the case.

Eibensteiner faces gross misdemeanor charges alleging he aided and abetted illegal corporate campaign donations by a Florida insurance company in 2002.

He also is accused of soliciting and accepting contributions from an insurer, a separate but related offence.

Attorney General Mike Hatch is expected to be the prosecution’s first witness today. Hatch will testify about his role in finding a thank-you note Eibensteiner wrote to the insurance company.

The criminal trial was moved to Olmsted County, a heavily Republican area, from Mower County, which has Democratic leanings, because of publicity about the case in Austin. Eibensteiner was indicted by a Mower County grand jury.

During jury selection Monday, all but six members of a 16-person jury pool said they believed the Republican Party reflects their interests. The other six described themselves as independent or bipartisan.

In arguments over the striking of one juror from the final jury, Eibensteiner’s attorney, Bill Mauzy, said he was looking for jurors who identified with the Republican Party. “I would rather have someone who affiliates themselves with the Republicans,’’ Mauzy said.