RENO " A lawyer for a Reno doctor accused of trafficking illegal human growth hormone to patients said Thursday he's trying to force Nevada first lady Dawn Gibbons to testify in a federal trial that he claims stems from a politically motivated prosecution.
Testimony continued Thursday in the trial of Dr. James W. Forsythe, husband of former Nevada Republican Party Chairwoman Earlene Forsythe.
The homeopathic physician is accused of twice selling vials of Bio-Tropin to an undercover Food and Drug Administration agent in 2004.
"It's political," Kevin Mirch, the doctor's lawyer, said of the reason for the prosecution. He declined to elaborate, saying details would come out in the trial expected to continue into next week in U.S. District Court in Reno.
Mirch confirmed in an interview with The Associated Press Gibbons is on a list of at least 35 witnesses he has subpoenaed to testify during the trial. But he declined to comment on why she was chosen.
Earlene Forsythe was head of the state GOP when Gibbons launched her campaign for the congressional seat held by her husband, Jim Gibbons, who was elected governor in 2006. Dean Heller ended up winning the contentious Republican primary for the House seat.
Mirch said a hearing on a motion by Dawn Gibbons to quash the subpoena was scheduled for later Thursday afternoon.