Jury Selection Begins in Federal Bribery Trial of Rep. Tucker

Jury selection began Tuesday in the federal trial of U.S. Rep. Walter R. Tucker III, accused of accepting $37,500 in bribes and soliciting an additional $250,000 kickback from two waste disposal firms while he was mayor of Compton in 1991 and 1992.

But the selection process appeared to be off to a slow start with an estimated 56 of the 80 prospective panelists saying they could not serve because of personal hardships. The trial in the court of U.S. District Judge Consuelo B. Marshall is expected to last six to eight weeks.

Flanked by supporters, the 38-year-old Democrat held a prayer rally on the courthouse steps before the proceedings started and declared, “We’re just looking forward for the opportunity to clear our name.” Tucker is a nondenominational minister and a lawyer.