U.S. Dist. Ct. Judge Thomas F. Hogan (U.S.D.Ct. D.C., Reagan) “postponed indefinitely” the trial of Jake West, frmr. president of the Intl. Assn. of Iron Workers, acc. to West’s attny. West was indicted in Aug. 2001 on charges that embezzled more than $50,000 from the union for personal expenses. That trial was scheduled to begin Oct. 2. But Hogan, while refusing to dismiss the case, ruled that West is “medically incompetent” to stand trial.
West is still scheduled to be tried on Oct. 15 on charges that he diverted $37,000 in pension and other union funds to a frmr. union rival who wasn’t entitled to them. That trial is also expected to be postponed. [Engineering News-Record, 10/7/02]