Attorneys for the embattled Twin Cities businessman Tom Petters are pushing for a change of venue.

Lawyers filed the request Wednesday, stating all the pre-trial publicity has made it impossible for Petters to receive a fair trial in Minnesota. Part of the issue stems from 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS' breaking news coverage of Petters' headquarters being raided on Sept. 24, 2008.

They're asking the judge to move it to Wisconsin or Iowa.

The request was one of several made on Wednesday. Attorneys have also asked for the names and information regarding certain government informants that helped build its case against Petters.

The defense believes law enforcement officials failed to adhere to government investigation guidelines. They further believe that some of the informants, like former employee Deanna Coleman and business partner Michael Catain, have engaged in unauthorized criminal activity since they began cooperating with the government. They also want the names of people who may have leaked information to the media and information on all witnesses against him.

Petters has also asked a judge for a better jail living situation, calling the current conditions 'deplorable.' Petters has been jailed since his arrest in October and was recently transferred to an area of the jail with high-risk sex offenders and claims he's being treated poorly.

In all, attorneys say there are now over one million pages of evidence in the case.

Petters, who is accused of a multi-billion dollar fraud scheme, will go on trial in June.

COURT DOCUMENTS:
 View the release request
 Read Petters motion to be freed
 Read Petters detention documents
 Read the affidavit
 Petters Group Worldwide bankruptcy documents
 Intervention in Petters case denied

BACKGROUND ON THE STORY:
 Biography of Tom Petters
 Petters co-defendant asks for frivolous monthly increases
 Petters associate asks for jail release
 Judge revokes bail for Petters associate
 Petters associate to be searched again for assets
 Motion filed to send Petters associate to jail
 OFFICIAL: Petters hiding money from court 
 Petters makes third request for release
 FEDS: Petters' associate knew of scheme
 Attorneys say Petters not a flight risk
 Petters' attorney: 'There's been rush to judgment'
 Petters associate transported to Sherburne Co. Jail 
 Petters Group Worldwide files for Ch. 11 
 Petters ordered held, 3 associates plead guilty 
 Excelsior man charged in Petters matter
 Petters charged with fraud, will be held in jail 
 Court documents unsealed in Petters case 
 Petters resigns 
 Petters meets with employees after raid
 Warrant alleges $100M fraud by Petters

HOW THE CASE AFFECTS OTHERS:
 Petters case leaves Rochester bank out $7.1M
 Non-profits, charity groups sue Petters, associates 
 Top Minn. politicians return Petters donations 
 Hedge fund sues Petters, alleging swindle
 How bad is it? Sun Country says they're $4M in debt
 Sun Country files for bankruptcy protection 
 Sun Country warns of possible shutdown 
 Sun Country defers half of paychecks 
 Interview with Sun Country's CEO