A justice on New Hampshire's Supreme Court has been indicted for allegedly interfering with an investigation into her husband.
The state's Republican attorney general announced charges Wednesday against Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi - just a day before her husband, Geno Marconi, was separately indicted.
The charges against the judge were unveiled by New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella, a Republican. Marconi was appointed to the court by Governor Chris Sununu, a Republican.
The indictment against Justice Marconi accuses her of pressuring Sununu to drop the probe into her husband.
She was charged with two class B felonies - one count of attempt to commit improper influence and one count of criminal solicitation of improper influence - and five misdemeanors.
Marconi allegedly dismissed the probe of her husband as "petty" and "political," and said the investigation needed to end fast because she was recused from important cases.
The details of the indictment are limited, but Formella said the probe is finished and no other person is suspected of wrongdoing.
“No person is above the law, and the evidence in this case required investigation and presentation to the grand jury,” said Attorney General Formella. “The decision to charge a sitting Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court was not made lightly, and it comes after careful and thoughtful deliberation. It is my hope that the public will be reassured that all individuals, including public officials, are treated equally under the law.”
A separate indictment filed against Marconi's husband, Geno Marconi, accused him of tampering with witnesses and falsifying evidence, both class B felonies.
"It's incredibly serious," Governor Sununu said. "I mean, you're talking about an independent grand jury indicting a very high-level public official like that and public servant. I really, first and foremost, really appreciate the attorney general. He's done a phenomenal job."
Justice Marconi has been on administrative leave since July. Her husband has also been on leave at his job.
In August, a friend of Geno Marconi's told InDepthNH.org that he believes Governor Sununu is behind an effort to pressure Geno Marconi to resign.
A lawyer for Justice Marconi said she would fight the charges all the way.
“We will fight the charges to the fullest extent permitted by the law, starting with motions to dismiss the case which we anticipate filing soon,” Justice Marconi's lawyers said in a statement. “We intend to fight these wrongful accusations in court, where the fight should occur, and not in the media.”
