A federal judge granted Prince George’s County Councilwoman Leslie Johnson’s request for more time to “investigate the government’s allegations” against her.
U.S. Magistrate Judge William Connelly agreed to delay Johnson’s preliminary hearing another month, from Feb. 16 to March 16. The U.S. Attorney’s Office had not opposed Johnson’s motion, which was filed a week ago.
In November, Johnson and her husband — then County Executive Jack Johnson — were arrested during an FBI raid of their Mitchellville home. The FBI secretly recorded Jack Johnson telling his wife, who had not been sworn into office yet, to flush a $100,000 check down the toilet and hide $80,000 in her bra. Authorities have said that the money was bribes taken from developers seeking favorable treatment.
Jack Johnson has not filed for a similar extension of time. William R. Martin, an attorney for the former County Executive, did not return a request for comment Friday morning.
Neither of the Johnsons have been indicted on the charges, though that could change between now and each of their preliminary hearings.
