Rome mayor awaits verdict that could decide political fate

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ROME (AP) — Rome’s embattled mayor is in court for the last day of her trial for allegedly lying over a City Hall appointment that could decide her political fate.

Mayor Virginia Raggi has denied the charge. But if the court finds her guilty, with a verdict due later Saturday, she would be expected to step down under the rules of the 5-Star Movement that fielded her. Prosecutors have demanded a 10-month sentence.

Raggi is charged with lying to anti-corruption officials when she insisted that the choice of the city tourist office was hers alone. Prosecutors say that the appointment was engineered by the appointee’s brother, who was Raggi’s chief aide at the time.

The 5-Stars’ rules state that any member convicted of a crime can’t stay in office, even pending appeal.

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