HELENA, Mont. — Testimony in former Montana Senate President Jason Ellsworth’s trial continued in Helena as the case moved through its third day.
Angela Carter, the financial director for Legislative Services, returned to the witness stand after continuing testimony from Wednesday. She described correspondence involving a state contract that prosecutors said Ellsworth illegally awarded to a longtime associate.
A key part of her testimony centered on how the paperwork reached her.
"I remember him telling me that he had the contract ready and then I sent him my email. He sent me what looks like Agile Analytics sent the contracts and the invoices to the senator and then the senator forwarded them to me," Carter said.
Ellsworth’s attorney, Joan Mell, continued questioning Carter about her role in helping move the contract along.
The prosecution and defense also called additional witnesses. One witness from Montana State Legislative Services said he had interacted with Ellsworth and saw the contracts in email.
He told the court the documents raised concerns because they looked almost the same and called for payment right away.
"We got two contracts that were nearly identical. In fact, I got questions about what the difference was and I found out the difference was the attachment in the A and the B. So trying to figure out what the differences even were on these particular contracts. But they required full payment immediately," the former Montana State Legislative Services employee said.
Ellsworth faces an official misconduct charge tied to actions prosecutors said happened while he was in office.
Prosecutors said Ellsworth violated a state ethics code that required lawmakers to disclose possible conflicts of interest and said the contract was not reviewed by the proper authorities before it was secured and awarded.
The trial is expected to last through next Friday.
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