NASHVILLE (AP) - Former Sen. John Ford's federal trial on charges related to consultant payments he got from state contractors has been postponed until June.

The prosecution and defense sought the delay saying in a petition that Ford's lawyer needs adequate time to review "extensive" materials just turned over to him by the government.

Judge Todd Campbell agreed and on Wednesday delayed the trial, which had been set for March, until June 24 in Nashville.

Ford, of Memphis, is accused of taking $800,000 in consultant payments from private contractors with TennCare while using his position as a state senator to promote those contractors' interests.

He was convicted of bribery in the Tennessee Waltz investigation last year.

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