A 12-member jury has been chosen for the blackmail and computer crimes trial of the co-founder of the Sooner Tea Party.
An eight-woman, four-man jury was seated Monday for the trial of Al Gerhart, who was charged in Oklahoma County District Court in April 2013 after he allegedly sent an email intended to intimidate Republican Sen. Cliff Branan of Oklahoma City, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee.
Gerhart has acknowledged that he sent the email on March 26, 2013, concerning a House-passed bill favored by conservative tea party supporters that Branan did not hear in his committee.
The email demanded that Branan give the measure a hearing, "or I will make sure you regret not doing it."
Prosecution and defense attorneys will give their opening statements in the case Tuesday.
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