Court takes case of former Puerto Rico senator, businessman

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court is taking an appeal from a former Puerto Rico senator and a prominent businessman from the island. The pair say they should not be retried on charges relating to an alleged bribery scheme.

The justices said Monday they will consider whether former Sen. Hector Martinez-Maldonado and Juan Bravo-Fernandez can be retried after a federal appeals court threw out their convictions. The appeals court had ruled the jury's instructions were flawed.

Martinez-Maldonado was accused of providing political favors to Bravo-Fernandez in exchange for a trip to Las Vegas to watch a boxing match. The FBI alleged that Martinez submitted legislation that favored Bravo-Fernandez's private security firm.

Published: Thu, Mar 31, 2016