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DEL.ICIO.USCampbell may seek mistrial today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Attorneys for former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell said they may ask for a mistrial this morning in his public corruption case.
They’re upset about something Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally Yates said in front of jurors that implied Campbell had made statements to investigators about his gambling habits.
Yates asked IRS agent Bill Salinski: “Has Mayor Campbell made any representations concerning whether he usually won or lost in Friday night poker games?�
The agent replied: “Yes, he has.�
Defense attorneys Billy Martin and Jerry Froelich quickly objected.
Yates replied: “It’s an admission, your honor, of the defendant.�
Campbell’s attorneys then asked to talk to the judge without the jury in the courtroom.
They’re concerned jurors will believe Campbell made statements to investigators and will question why they can’t see the statements or hear him testify.
Campbell actually never talked to investigators about his gambling habits. Instead, Yates was referring to statements at a hearing last year by his attorneys.
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Story cautioned both sides to be more careful and to hash out any future controversial issues when jurors aren’t present.
“You know the danger zones, when we’re in a mine field,� the judge said. “I think this was dangerous.�
Martin said the defense team will discuss whether to ask for a mistrial and sanctions against prosecutors. The judge told both sides to be in court at 9 a.m. for a brief hearing without the jurors, who are scheduled to return at 9:30 a.m.
Defense attorneys first asked for a mistrial Friday after a former city councilman testified “scandals had been exposed� while Campbell was mayor.
Story denied the mistrial request from Froelich, but the judge also chided the witness, former Councilman Lee Morris, for referring to scandals during his testimony.
“I don’t need to have off-handed comments throw us into a mistrial situation and have to go back and start this process all over� Story said.
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