Judge Hearing Arguments In Orie Case

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - A judge continues to hear arguments today at a pre-trial hearing for State Sen. Jane Orie.

So far, the judge has denied a motion to have an out-of-county jury hear the case.

Instead, an Allegheny County jury will hear it, but residents of Orie's district will be excluded from the jury pool.

At a preliminary hearing in July, Allegheny County Assistant

District Attorney Law Claus said investigators believed Orie received $30,000 to $70,000 worth of illegal benefits.

But at the close of a hearing on pretrial motions Wednesday,

Claus says he'll now try to prove the allegedly illegal work was worth $70,000 to $130,000 - not counting another $100,000 to $200,000 he claims Orie would have paid a professional to raise about $2 million in campaign cash over the last decade.

A gag order has now been imposed.

The judge has also refused the defense's motion to disqualify District Attorney Stephen Zappala's office from prosecuting the case.

The arguments will continue this afternoon.

Stay with KDKA for the latest details.