Gaunt and glancing nervously at reporters, disgraced Democratic moneyman Norman Hsu appeared in a California court yesterday and agreed to spend another 10 weeks behind bars while his lawyers do "research."
The surprise delay raised eyebrows because Hsu's lawyers had filed motions asking the court to refund the $2 million bail he skipped out on in September and toss his 1992 fraud conviction altogether.
The postponement could signal anything from plea deal discussions to a ploy to fend off federal prosecutors in New York, who recently accused Hsu of a separate $60 million Ponzi scheme, one expert said.
"We're doing more research. These things take time," Hsu's lawyer, James Brosnahan, said after the judge postponed the case until Jan. 4.
Columbia law Prof. Daniel Richman said California and New York authorities could be in "some sort of negotiation toward a global resolution" of Hsu's cases.
"It might also serve [Hsu's] purposes to stall until the presidential campaign is over," Richman said.
"It's not because the federal charges will go away, but it might be a more hospitable environment."
ndillon@nydailynews.com
