TACOMA — A new trial date has been set for indicted Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley, and federal prosecutors say they’re looking into a possible conflict of interest on the part of his defense attorney.
U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton on Monday agreed to push back the trial date from next month to Jan. 19, 2016, given the complexity of the case and the roughly than 65,000 pages of discovery the U.S. Attorney’s Office has provided to Kelley and his lawyer, Mark Bartlett.
Kelley has taken a leave of absence following his indictment on allegations that he stole from one-time business clients and avoided taxes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Friedman told the judge that prosecutors are researching a potential conflict of interest in Bartlett’s representation of Kelley. Friedman did not provide further details.
Bartlett declined to comment.
