RALEIGH Ruffin Poole, an aide to former Gov. Mike Easley, pleaded not guilty Monday to 57 federal corruption charges.
Poole appeared in a federal courtroom Monday for his formal arraignment. His plea was the first time Poole had personally and publicly responded to the charges against him.
U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle read the list of charges to Poole and asked him, "Do you plead guilty or not guilty?"
In each case, Poole said, "Not Guilty."
Poole is charged with 57 counts related to receiving money, trips and gifts from developers while he was also taking official action to ensure that environmental permits were processed for the developers, according to the indictment against him.
The formal arraignment Monday sets the stage for a trial, although the key question for Poole is when that trial would be held.
Prosecutors have been pushing for a swift end to the case and the larger investigation into Easley's administration. First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Bruce told Boyle on Monday that he supports the proposed trial date of April 26.
Poole's attorney, Joseph Zeszotarski Jr., had been pushing for more time. He said Monday that the evidence he has received from the government includes more than 50,000 pages and may involve more than 30 witnesses for the prosecution and more than 20 for the defense.
On March 18, the grand jury added income tax charges to the case against Poole, and Zeszotarski said Monday that the busy tax season has made it tough to find a CPA with time to assist in the defense.
Boyle said he was inclined to give Poole more time, but that it would be "weeks" and not "months," meaning the trial would likely start some time in May.
Boyle said he would soon make a decision on the trial date.
Poole ignored questions from media representatives as he exited the courthouse, clasping his wife's hand.