Lithuanian woman makes last-ditch bid to avoid extradition
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A suburban Chicago woman who was once a judge and parliamentarian in Lithuania is requesting that her extradition be stayed while she applies for political asylum in the United States.
Nergina Venckiene (vehn-KEY'-ehn-nayz) is charged in Lithuania with slander and disobeying court orders to relinquish custody of her 4-year-old niece.
The 47-year-old Venckiene says the charges are politically motivated and arise from her exposure of an influential pedophile ring whose victims include her niece.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Venckiene fled to the U.S. in 2013. She says if she is extradited she fears she will be killed for exposing the pedophiles. Her lawyers will request a yearlong stay on Thursday.
Prosecutors say she can't avoid extradition because it was approved by the State Department in April, and that decision overrides any court ruling.