In brief: Another delay in Thompson case

U.S. District Judge Fred Van Sickle agreed to another delay Friday in the sentencing of former Spokane Police Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr.

Van Sickle agreed to a request by attorney Dutch Wetzel, who is representing video forensic expert Grant Fredericks, who caused the delay when he contacted the judge to allege that federal prosecutors mischaracterized his expected testimony in the trial last fall in which Thompson was convicted of using excessive force and lying to investigators about his confrontation with Otto Zehm.

Defense attorney Carl Oreskovich has claimed prosecutorial misconduct because he says Fredericks’ unused testimony could have helped defend Thompson. Federal prosecutors have argued that Fredericks’ claims are baseless and that he has offered misleading testimony in other cases.

Van Sickle instructed Wetzel to prepare a summary of any materials Fredericks might have that would help him decide. Van Sickle scheduled another status conference for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday to get an update on Wetzel’s progress.

McMorris Rodgers on ‘Meet the Press’

If you tune in to NBC’s “Meet the Press” this weekend, you’ll see a familiar face from the Inland Northwest.

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Spokane Republican serving as vice chair of the House GOP Conference, will be among the guests on the nationally televised news show, which airs in Spokane at 8 a.m. Sunday on KHQ TV. Topics include the presidential race, the economy, immigration and the continuing debate over what some are calling the “war on women.”

McMorris Rodgers, seeking a fifth congressional term, is the Washington state chair of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign and has led the Republican rebuttal against Democratic attacks that the GOP’s agenda harms women.

Other guests in the panel discussion include Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen, MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow and Republican strategist Alex Castellanos.