HARTFORD, Conn. -- A leading state lawmaker went before a panel Wednesday to defend herself against accusations of violating state election laws.

The allegations, both of which involve absentee ballots, were presented against state Rep. Minnie Gonzalez, D-Hartford.

PDF: Affidavit Filed In Gonzalez Case While public record, a number of these exhibits were not allowed to be used in the hearing because the woman making the allegations recently died and could not be cross-examined by the attorney for Rep. Gonzalez.

Officials said a complex full of Hartford seniors is the epicenter of a March 2006 elections complaint against Gonzalez.

"All of what these people are saying is not true, and that's what I'm fighting for," Gonzalez said.

Ramon Espinosa, then an employee of Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez, said that during a Democratic primary, Gonzalez or members of her campaign:

Helped people vote by absentee ballot when they were well enough to get to the polls.

Took absentee ballots to mail them.

Submitted an absentee ballot without that person's knowledge.

Discarded an absentee ballot and another person's absentee ballot application because they were voting for another slate of candidates.

The State Election Enforcement Commission hearing on the issue ended quickly.

The main witness, who was in her 60s, recently passed away. Without Gonzalez having the chance to cross examine her, the witness' statement had to be thrown out.

"The respondent has delayed for two years through court proceedings," said Joan Andrews, of the commission. "We've won at every level: Superior Court, Supreme Court, Appellate Court. But we can't control a witness passing away."

Another complaint states that at City Hall in November 2007, Gonzalez, who was running for re-election, was seen talking with people while they were completing absentee ballots.

The hearing on that issue has been postponed.

"I'll let the evidence speak for itself at that hearing," Andrews said. "But that hearing, we anticipate going forward, and there will be another day."

The hearing on the second complaint was postponed because the main witness in that case could not appear Wednesday.

It has been rescheduled for next month.