Prosecutors drop case against ex-speaker Sansom

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped corruption charges against former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom after a judge rejected a key witness.

Circuit Judge Terry Lewis ruled Friday that prosecutors had not shown enough evidence that a conspiracy existed in response to a motion to introduce testimony by Bob Richburg. Richburg is a former college president who had been charged in the case before agreeing to testify against Sansom. Without Richburg's testimony, prosecutors couldn't continue.

Sansom was charged with scheming to get a $6 million state budget appropriation in 2007 to build a hangar at the Destin airport for businessman Jay Odom. Defense lawyers say the money was for a much-needed and hurricane-proof emergency operations center for the city of Destin.

Charges were also dropped against Odom.