The federal judge who will oversee the upcoming tax evasion trial of former New York Sen. Pedro Espada has warned prosecutors that he won't tolerate any more delays in a case that has already dragged on too long.
U.S. District Judge William Pauley set a trial date of Nov. 5.
He also ordered prosecutors to trim down the number of witnesses they planned to call, saying "no judge in his right mind" would allow more than 100 to take the stand.
Espada was convicted last month of misusing public funds meant to help poor patients at Bronx health clinics that he controlled.
The tax case is separate. He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he failed to pay taxes on money he looted from the clinics.
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