Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough partner Robert Crowe, who’s battling claims that he contributed to political corruption in Ohio, told a judge late last week that the case should be tossed because it conflates state election and federal securities laws.

The Securities and Exchange Commission sued Crowe in January, claiming that he had a role in an illegal “pay-to-play” scheme that helped State Street Bank & Trust Co. secure Ohio public pension contracts.