Metro

Ex-Sen. Joseph Bruno going back to court

A federal judge has scheduled a new fraud trial in May for the ex-leader of New York’s Senate.

Retired Sen. Joseph Bruno is accused of accepting more than $400,000 from a businessman for helping with state grants.

The Rensselaer County Republican led the Senate’s majority for 14 years before stepping down in 2008. He has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining he was paid for outside consulting work.

U.S. District Judge Gary Sharpe has set a May 12 trial date.

Prosecutors proposed February, while the defense asked for April after the 84-year-old Bruno had cancer surgery last year.

Bruno was acquitted in 2009 of five fraud counts and convicted of two others that were overturned on appeal.

Prosecutors refiled those two charges.