By Rick Howlett
Louisville, KY – Testimony is scheduled to begin today in the federal trial of karen sypher, who's charged with trying to extort university of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino. A jury was seated earlier this month. A panel of eight men and eight women will hear the case against Sypher, who's also charged with lying to the FBI and retaliating against Pitino for reporting the alleged extortion attempt. Pitino told authorities that Sypher threatened to go public with damaging personal information about the coach unless he paid her $10 million and met other demands. Pitino said he had a consensual sexual encounter
With Sypher at a louisville restaurant in 2003. Police investigated Sypher's claim that she was raped, but said it was "void of credibility."