Libous, NY lawmaker, may have conviction vacated after death

NEW YORK (AP) - The conviction of a New York state lawmaker on charges of lying to the FBI may be reversed after his death.

The New York Times reports (https://nyti.ms/2bEyF3M ) that an attorney for the late Thomas Libous filed papers last week with a federal appeals court to have Libous’ conviction vacated.

Libous, a Republican, was convicted of lying about what prosecutors said was a scheme in which he arranged for a lobbyist to funnel $50,000 to his son.

He was convicted and expelled from the state Senate last year. He died of prostate cancer in May.

Libous died after he filed a notice to appeal the conviction but before it was adjudicated.

A legal doctrine known as abatement by death allows a felon’s estate to move to have such a conviction vacated.

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Information from: The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com