Former Democratic state Rep. Keith Hall is scheduled to testify in his own defense Thursday during a federal corruption trial.
Hall is accused of paying a state mine inspector tens of thousands of dollars to overlook safety violations at coal mines Hall owned. That mine inspector, Kelly Shortridge, has pleaded guilty to soliciting a bribe.
On Wednesday, Shortridge told a federal jury Hall paid him $25,000 for favors and he expected Hall to use his position on the House Natural Resources Committee to get Shortridge promoted.
Hall's attorney, Brent Caldwell, acknowledged that Hall paid Shortridge. But he said the payments were legitimate business transactions because Hall paid Shortridge as a consultant to help find people to work his coal mines. He said Hall never once asked Shortridge for favors.