The judge said Santos has never faced a specific threat, so jurors should not hear him on the topic. Prosecutors were trying to counter two days of cross-examination by the defense, which repeatedly hammered the point that Santos' plea agreement won him lesser charges and the probability of a sentence reduction. They claimed that might have encouraged Santos to lie. Santos and his wife, Amarylis, were originally arrested for conspiracy to commit espionage, which carries a maximum life sentence. Santos was sentenced to four years on the government's recommendation.
Prosecutors say they are one-third through their case.