Prince George’s County Councilwoman Leslie Johnson is asking a federal judge to give “her additional time to investigate the government’s allegations” of corruption against her by delaying her preliminary hearing another month.
She is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 16, though papers filed Friday request that it be put off until March 16.
“Ms. Johnson and her counsel have diligently investigated this matter, but given the magnitude of the allegations, she requires additional time to conclude that investigation,” the court documents state.
In November, Johnson and her husband — then County Executive Jack Johnson — were arrested during an FBI raid of their Mitchellville home. Authorities contend the duo conspired to destroy evidence linking them to receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from a developer in return for favorable treatment. The FBI secretly recorded Jack Johnson telling his wife, now a county councilwoman, to flush a $100,000 check down the toilet and hide $80,000 in her bra.
It’s not immediately clear whether Jack Johnson is also asking for an extension.
Spokeswoman Marcy Murphy said the U.S. Attorney’s office does not oppose the motion.
Johnson’s attorney, Shawn M. Wright, did not return a request seeking comment.
