* Delays are common in cases like these, so we’ll see how it goes. Center Square…

A Central Illinois state lawmaker and her husband, both being tried in federal court for charges related to her time in office, want to delay their prosecution until after the general election in November.

Following pretrial hearings for discovery, lawyers for State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Champaign, and her husband, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons, seek new dates in their federal trial, citing the upcoming election.

Court records show the duo’s final pretrial hearing is scheduled for election day, Nov. 3, followed by a trial start date of Nov. 17, the deadline for ballots to be counted in the state and when lawmakers return to Springfield for their fall session.

In a motion filed Aug. 24, J. Steven Beckett, lawyer for Aaron Ammons, wrote that the scheduled dates “directly conflict with Defendant Ammons’s responsibilities as an elected official serving the citizens of Champaign County.”

Lawyers for the state representative joined in asking the court to reschedule in another filing Aug. 28, also citing Aaron’s duty as county clerk and requesting “any other relief the Court deems appropriate.” […]

Carol and Aaron Ammons were charged with multiple counts of wire fraud and obstruction of justice respectively, stemming from an FBI investigation into the couple.

The lawmaker is alleged to have misused campaign funds and conducted a kickback scheme – when state grant money was given to nonprofits in the district employing their daughter, Titianna Ammons. […]

In both of the officials’ campaign filings, contributions have largely stopped, save for one $1,000 contribution to the lawmaker. Neither official has reported using campaign funds for ongoing legal costs, which they are allowed to use for such purposes.

The legal defense fund reportedly set up by Howard does not appear to be taking public donations through its website.