HARRISBURG -- Three witnesses in a state government corruption case are asking a judge to keep in place a gag order that a defendant in the case wants lifted.

The three -- identified in a court petition only as "witnesses A, B and C" -- are being represented by Philadelphia attorneys James J. Rohn and Matthew H. Haverstick.

The gag order was filed under seal in 2008 by Judge Barry Feudale, supervisor of the grand jury. It prevents Democratic caucus employees who testified before the grand jury from disclosing their testimony before a grand jury to anyone except their attorneys.

Brett Cott, who was charged in the corruption case, is seeking to have the gag order lifted because, he says, it prevents his attorney from collecting information vital to preparing a defense.

In the absence of such an order, state law allows people who appear before grand juries to speak freely about their own testimony.

Mr. Cott is one of 12 people associated with the House Democratic caucus who face charges relating to an alleged scheme to use tax dollars to fund campaign work, which is illegal.