Efforts to Dismiss Cisneros Case Fail

A federal judge in Washington refused to dismiss an 18-count indictment filed against former Housing Secretary Henry G. Cisneros, clearing the way for his trial in November on charges that he lied to the FBI about paying $250,000 in hush money to a former mistress. U.S. District Judge Stanley Sporkin released a strongly worded order that turned down all 21 motions filed by Cisneros’ legal team. The motions attacked virtually every part of the indictment obtained last December. Cisneros is charged with conspiring to withhold details about his relationship with ex-mistress Linda Jones, formerly Linda Medlar, from the FBI and others, before and after his confirmation as Housing secretary in January 1993. His lawyers contended it was not a crime to lie to the FBI during a background investigation being done for a presidential transition.