Horace Cooper, who served as a staffer for former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, and as chief of staff for two executive branch agencies, indicated today that he will go to trial to fight charges that he accepted tickets and meals from imprisoned ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff in exchange for official actions that would benefit Abramoff's clients.

Cooper was indicted in August on five charges of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and bribery, fraudulent concealment, false statements and obstruction of an official proceeding. The alleged crimes took place between 1998 and 2005, when Cooper served on Armey's staff and then as chief of staff at Voice of America and the Labor Department's Employment Standards Administration.

"We're here to fight the felony charges. We vehemently dispute them," Cooper's attorney, Solomon Wisenberg, said. "We look forward to our day in court."

Wisenberg would not respond to questions about whether Cooper had been offered a plea deal by the government.

If Cooper's case does go to trial, it will be only the third case associated with the Abramoff scandal to go before a jury. Kevin Ring, a former Abramoff lobbying associate, went to trial last month, and a jury is currently deliberating on the eight charges against him. Former White House aide David Safavian was tried first in 2006 and then retried in 2008, and was found guilty in both trials of lying to investigators and obstructing justice. To date, 20 people have been convicted, pleaded guilty or are awaiting trial in relation to the Abramoff scandal.

During a status conference today, the government offered a list of probable witnesses, including two former Abramoff associates, Neil Volz and Rodney Lane. Volz pleaded guilty in 2006 for his involvement in the Abramoff scandal and was sentenced to probation, community service and a fine. Lane has not been indicted on any crimes, and the government said today that he is not expected to be charged.

Abramoff was not on the probable witness list. "I doubt" Abramoff will be called as a witness, prosecutor Matthew Stennes said. "We'll certainly reserve that right. I don't think it will be necessary."

Also during the status conference, Wisenberg said that Cooper was unable "to make arrangements" for the attorney to continue representing him. The presiding judge, Ellen Huvelle, suggested that Cooper apply for a public defender or that another attorney may want to represent Cooper, "because it's an interesting case."

"There are people from major law firms who want to take cases like this," Huvelle said. She added that the delay in obtaining representation for Cooper will likely keep the case from going to trial before February at the earliest.