The trial for former State Sen. Dennis Bradley of Bridgeport began Tuesday morning after years of delays over evidence disputes.

Bradley is accused of wire fraud. Prosecutors say he used “lies and half-truths” to “trick” the state into awarding him nearly $84,000 in public campaign funds.

Prosecutors claim a party Bradley held at the old Dolphins Cove Restaurant in Bridgeport was actually a campaign event that he paid for with his own money—which would have disqualified him for public money. They say Bradley then allegedly instructed staffers to lie about it to state regulators.

At the heart of the case are dozens of texts and a 28-minute video of that event. Authorities say Bradley tried to keep the jury from seeing that video, but a federal appeals court allowed it.

Tune into News 12 Connecticut at 4:30 p.m. to hear from John Craven outside the New Haven federal court with details on the first day of testimony.