Opening statements begin in former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's trial on corruption charges

Opening statements in the corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and three others began on Wednesday morning after jury selection wrapped up on Tuesday evening.Seven women and five men were seated as jurors following a day-long session of questioning Tuesday from Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, federal prosecutors and defense attorneys. The jurors and six alternate jurors were chosen from a pool about 70 potential jurors questioned.Assistant U.S. Attorney Abraham Fine began to lay out the government case Wednesday morning during his opening statements, opening with a forceful characterization of Thao."Public official who put her power up for sale, who put greed first, who put her own monetary interest above the people she was supposed to serve," Fine said. Thao, her boyfriend Andre Jones, local businessman David Duong, and his son Andy Duong face federal charges in a wide-ranging indictment alleging bribery, mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy. The allegations point to a pay