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 Federal prosecutors issued their response to Tom Petters' request to get his trial moved out of state.
In February, Petters' attorney asked that his trial be moved to Wisconsin or Iowa. The argument was that he wouldn't get a fair trial due to all the media attention in Minnesota. But in documents released this weekend, the U.S. attorney says there is no reason to move the trial out of state.
The U.S. attorney said, "The defendant's rhetoric is wholly disconnected from reality."
The argument is that any pretrial publicity related to his being charged with running an alleged $3 billion ponzi scheme can be squarely placed on Petters.
Criminal Defense Attorney Jeff Degree thinks the U.S. attorney wins the motion easily.
"In federal court you're dealing with a much larger pool," Degree said. "So I don't know that folks in Rochester, Waseca and the rest of the state have been paying as much attention to things in Petters case as here in Minneapolis."
The U.S. attorney argues, "A change of venue would impose additional costs to taxpayers and victims due to pretrial publicity the defendant himself fostered."
In February, Petters also filed a motion for improved treatment at the Sherburne County Jail, saying conditions were deplorable. According to Petters, he wasn't allowed exercise and chained every moment out of his cell.
To that assertion, the U.S. attorney responded, "There has been no showing that the jail is doing anything other than following its procedures. The defendant simply wants special treatment."
Petters is being charged with fraud, money laundering and conspiracy. His trial is set to start 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 associate to be 'immediately' released from jail
Petters requests change of venue for trial
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
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