Judge Rejects Honig’s Bid to Drop Conflict of Interest Charges
State schools Supt. Bill Honig’s request that felony conflict of interest charges be dismissed was denied Thursday by Superior Court Judge Fred K. Morrison, who set a Jan. 4, 1993, trial date.
In March, Honig was indicted on four counts of benefiting from contracts or grants that the Quality Education Project, a nonprofit parent involvement program formerly run by Honig’s wife, Nancy, had with the state.
Honig’s lawyers argued that the charges should be dropped because Deputy Atty. Gen. Cynthia G. Besemer did not tell the grand jury about money that the education project contributed to the school districts in question. Morrison said that argument was irrelevant.
Morrison also rejected the charge that Besemer did not properly instruct the grand jury about Honig’s knowledge of financial ties to the education project.
Patrick Hallinan, one of Honig’s lawyers, said Morrison’s decision would be appealed.
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