A judge has ordered a Pennsylvania state senator to decide by the end of the week whether to plead guilty or go to trial on corruption charges.
Montgomery County Judge Steven O'Neill gave 68-year-old state Sen. LeAnna Washington the ultimatum Monday, according to The Intelligencer.
State prosecutors in March charged Washington with felony theft of services and conflict of interest counts.
They allege she ordered taxpayer-paid employees to organize an elaborate annual "birthday party" political fundraiser that drew hundreds of attendees.
The attorney general's office estimated the state's monetary loss at $30,000 to more than $100,000.
Defense attorneys have argued that the evidence doesn't support charges that Washington intentionally diverted taxpayer resources for political purposes.
Washington, who was elected in 2005, lost her re-election bid in May.
