Sunday, January 22, 2012

Extortion Trial Delayed

{Charleston, West Virginia}...Trial was to begin Monday for Harry Marshall Rae, a California man accused of threatening West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin while Tomblin was running for governor. Friday, U.S. District Judge John Copenhaver decided to delay Rae's trial one week after prosecutors told him that Rae may enter a plea agreement. Investigators say the alleged September threat was part of a $50,000 extortion plot. Rae allegedly told others he could hurt Tomblin's chances with an undercover video showing cruel greyhound industry practices at an Oklahoma kennel. Tomblin's mother's greyhound breeding business had become a campaign issue. Rae alleged that he was sending the video to the campaign of Tomblin's Republican opponent, Bill Maloney. Maloney's campaign said it had no contact with Rae.