BOSTON -- Former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi pleaded not guilty again to federal corruption charges Thursday.
DiMasi and three co-defendants entered the pleas during their arraignment on an expanded indictment adding extortion to earlier public corruption charges of conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud.
DiMasi's attorneys are asking a judge to dismiss the corruption charges.
"I'm sorry I'm not able to say anything," DiMAsi said as he entered court Thursday.
DiMasi resigned last winter before being indicted in June along with three associates, including his campaign treasurer Richard Vitale.
It was alleged that DiMasi and his associates rigged lucrative state information technology contracts to the Canadian company Cognos in exchange for secret payments. Prosecutors are alleging DiMasi received payments of $57,000.
The hearing will be continued on Friday.
DiMasi remains free on bail.
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