Prince George’s County Councilwoman Leslie Johnson is requesting that her preliminary court date in federal court be postponed another month.
Johnson, facing witness tampering charges after the FBI said she and her husband conspired to hide bribes in her underwear, was set to appear in court next week.
“Although Ms. Johnson continues to diligently investigate the pending allegations, she still needs more time to conclude that investigation and prepare her defense,” her attorney, Shawn M. Wright, wrote in court papers filed in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt.
Hardy Vieux, another attorney representing Johnson, did not return a request for comment.
It’s not the first time Johnson, who lives in Mitchellville, has asked for an extension. Last month, a judge granted her request for more time to investigate the allegations against her by moving her hearing from Feb. 16 to March 16.
The U.S. Attorney’s office does not oppose her request to move her hearing to April 6, according to the filings. That means she has that long before being indicted, as authorities have until the preliminary hearing to do so.
An eight-count indictment on corruption-related charges was handed down to her husband, former Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson, last month. His arraignment in federal court is scheduled for Tuesday.
