Legal wrangling in the federal charges filed in Little Rock against former Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson include the government’s assertion that it has found additional evidence disputing his defense on use of material found on a laptop.

Federal Judge Kristine Baker last Friday gave prosecutors permission to file an additional brief responding to Hutchinson’s effort to get the charge dismissed or evidence suppressed.

Hutchinson has been charged with spending campaign money on himself and failing to pay income taxes.

Hutchinson, who also faces federal bribery charges in Missouri, had responded to the first indictment in Little Rock by saying his laptop was stolen by an ex-girlfriend and was illegally searched. He said exculpatory evidence was destroyed.


Prosecutors said in a motion last week that they had located additional evidence and asked that it be considered. It filed supporting documents — police reports and e-mail — under seal.