The first week of the criminal trial against former Montana Senate President Jason Ellsworth wrapped up Friday evening at Lewis and Clark County District Court in Helena, with jurors hearing the state's opening argument that the Hamilton Republican used his legislative position to steer government contracts for personal benefit.
Ellsworth was charged late last year by the Montana Department of Justice with official misconduct, a misdemeanor. The charge centers on allegations that he leveraged his role as a senator to influence state procurement in ways that benefited him personally. Ellsworth represented a Hamilton-area district and served as Senate president during the 2023 legislative session.
The first week of testimony laid the groundwork for what prosecutors say is a pattern of abuse of his legislative position, while the defense has pushed back on the characterization of his conduct. The trial is being heard in Helena at the district courthouse.
The case puts the mechanics of Montana state government contracting under a courtroom spotlight. How the state awards contracts and who has the authority to influence that process has emerged as a central theme — one that state attorneys leaned on heavily in week one. The trial is expected to continue into next week.