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Thursday, February 16, 2006
Gittens recalls Campbell’s contract orders
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Angela Gittens, the former general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, testified Thursday that Bill Campbell ordered her not to rebid an airport concessions contract some of his friends held with the city.
The prosecution in the former Atlanta mayor’s federal corruption trial is trying to prove that Campbell played favorites with city contractors who bribed him or donated to his political campaigns, legally or illegally.
Shortly after Gittens took the stand, her testimony was interrupted by objections from defense attorneys when the prosecution began asking her about other airport contracts.
With the jury out of the room, defense attorney Jerry Froelich told U. S. District Judge Richard Story that Gittens’ testimony was little more than “innuendoâ€? and had “thrown a skunk in the jury box.â€?
Froleich said prosecutors’ plans to ask Gittens about airport parking and advertising contracts were irrelevant to the case and not part of the indictment against Campbell.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally Yates argued that Gittens’ testimony is central to the government’s case.
The prosecution is trying to show that contractors who supported Campbell, allegedly with bribes and campaign contributions, were rewarded with lucrative city contracts.
Yates said, however, the government did not contend airport parking and advertising contracts were illegal or that the mayor took bribes from people who got them. Instead, she said, the prosecution wanted Gittens to testify about Campbell’s involvement with city contracts.
“We have to be able to show that he [Campbell] reaches into the contract process to reward people,â€? Yates said.
Judge Story ruled that Gittens could not talk about the parking contracts but could testify about advertising contracts with the city.
Permalink | | Categories: Bill Campbell trial
Defense tries to block more testimony
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Defense attorneys for former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell tried today to block government witnesses from testifying, including Angela Gittens, the former general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Gittens took the witness stand shortly before noon.
The prosecution is trying to connect Campbell directly to taking bribes and illegal campaign contributions from city contractors at a time when the government claims the former mayor was running what essentially was essentially a criminal enterprise in City Hall.
Gittens’ testimony may help back up government allegations that developer Ronnie Thornton and Campbell were linked in illicit activities. Government prosecutors say Campbell put pressure on Gittens to give Thornton a no-bid contract, worth $107 million, to supply 20 million cubic yards of dirt to built a fifth runway at the airport.
The indictment against the former mayor claims Thornton gave Campbell illegal campaign contributions in 1997 and was rewarded a month later with a $2 million emergency contract to begin work at the airport.
Gittens’ airport management contact was not renewed by Campbell in May 1998.
In addition to Gittens, prosecutors have lined up witnesses to tell about what prosecutors call a cozy relationship between the mayor and another city contractor Ricky Rowe, who is now dead. Lead defense attorney Billy Martin argued that prosecutors are going “too far afield of the indictment� in calling the witnesses.
Defense attorney Jerry Froelich told U.S. District Judge Richard Story, “They seemed to be throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks.�
Story said he will allow the witnesses to take the stand, but may decide this afternoon to restrict some testimony.
Permalink | | Categories: Bill Campbell trial
Ex-airport chief may testify about dirt contract
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The prosecution keeps trying to connect former Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell directly to bribes from city contractors, and illegal campaign contributions, while, at the same time, giving greater detail about his control over what they claim was essentially a criminal enterprise in City Hall during his time in office.
The key witness today, as the trial approaches the end of the fourth week, could be Angela Gittens, the former general manager of Atlanta airport who ran afoul of Campbell over a dirt deal.
The mayor reportedly put pressure on Gittens to give developer Ronnie Thornton a no-bid contract, worth $107 million, to supply 20 million cubic yards of dirt to built a fifth runway at the airport.
In the federal indictment, prosecutors claim Thornton made illegal campaign contributions to Campbell in 1997 and was rewarded one month later with a $2 million emergency contract to begin the work at the airport. Gittens — whose contact was not renewed by Campbell in May 1998 — has said little publicly about her disputes with the former mayor.
Permalink | | Categories: Bill Campbell trial
