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Friday, February 17, 2006
2nd ex-lover tells of gambling, other trips with Campbell
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The same month married former Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell took one girlfriend to Paris in July 1999, he took another one to Miami.
That was one revelation from the latest girlfriend, Martina Jimenez, to hit the witness stand in the federal corruption trial of the former mayor. Last week, TV newscaster, Marion Brooks testified about a 4-year affair with the mayor.
Jimenez, who was composed and matter-of-fact on the stand, said she met Campbell in September 1998 and continued to see him through the fall of 2001. Brooks testified that her affair with the mayor ran from 1996 to 1999.
Prosecutors brought Jimenez to the stand in the federal corruption trial of the former Atlanta mayor to talk about trips paid for in cash, gambling and gifts.
Jimenez, a 34-year-old Buckhead financial adviser, was on the stand for only 15 minutes. In questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phyllis Sumner, the prosecutor never used the word “sexâ€? or “affair.â€? She referred to Jimenez’s three-year-long romance as a “personal relationship.â€?
Sumner went through a recitation of travel dates and cities with Jimenez almost as methodically as prosecutor Russell Vineyard went through campaign expenses with another witness earlier in the day.
Jimenez said she “seldomlyâ€? traveled with Campbell, but met him in cities all over the country — New York, Miami, Savannah, New Orleans, Washington, D.C. — and at gambling casinos in Mississippi.
One trip that stood out was a Miami meeting in July 1999. That same month the mayor went to Paris with Brooks and spent much of four days touring the city, her taking photos of him on the street and in front of famous landmarks.
Prosecutors allege that city contractor United Water paid about $12,000 for that trip which ostensibly was for business so that the mayor could visit the facilities of the French company that owns United.
Prosecutors say Campbell ran the city as a criminal enterprise and squeezed contractors, including gambling buddy Rickey Rowe, for cash in exchange for lucrative city contracts.
Jimenez testified that on one trip to Tunica she and Campbell were joined by Rowe and another city contractor, Fred Prewitt. During that trip, she said she watched the mayor gamble for a while at a black jack table where she said he spent “a few hours.�
Jimenez said she didn’t know how Campbell acquired his gambling chips and she didn’t know if he won or lost. “We didn’t discuss gambling,â€? she said. She also testified that Campbell never discussed how he made money.
She said the mayor bought her gifts - a watch, “a lot of flowers,� and a Mount Blanc pen.
Campbell also helped Jimenez land a newly-created job public relations job in 2001 with the Atlanta Development Authority, which Campbell chaired.
Campbell’s wife Sharon, who has been in the courtroom most days, was absent during Brooks’ and Jimenez’s testimony.
Campbell, on trial for racketeering, bribery and tax fraud, insists he is innocent and blames his underlings for any corruption at City Hall.
Prosecutors said they brought Brooks to the stand last week to provide testimony about Campbell’s cash spending habits, but the aura of their affair added sensation to a trial that at times has been tedious. The case was the same with Jimenez’s testimony, which has been anticipated for a week.
Defense attorney Billy Martin asked one question of Jimenez on cross-examination. Did she have any personal knowledge of Campbell taking bribes. She said: “No.�
Martin then said: “I’m sorry the government brought you here. I’m sorry to meet you under these circumstances.â€? The attorney shook his head as he returned to the defense table. Judge Richard Story dismissed Jimenez, and ended trial for the day.
As Jimenez headed toward the front doors of the courthouse to leave, she peered around the corner looking for TV reporters and told her attorney, Seth Kirschenbaum: “Seth, I don’t want to go out that way.�
Her attorney reassured her: “I think it’s OK. I don’t see any cameras.�
Testimony in the trial continues Tuesday.
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Atlanta auditor says mayor’s friend got no-bid contract
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta’s internal auditor, another witness defense attorneys tried to block, testified today that one of Bill Campbell’s cronies landed a multimillion-dollar contract without facing competing bidders.
The Stanton Park project took nearly six years to complete and ended up costing the city $2 million more than expected, Leslie Ward testified at Campbell’s federal racketeering trial.
Ward testified that the City Council wanted an audit of the project in 2001, after the cost kept rising. Contaminated dirt had to be removed from a 7.7-acre city park built on a landfill. The park was closed in January 1999 after a child caught fire when she slid down a slide and the friction ignited methane gas rising from the ground.
Ward said there was no documentation to show how the company, R&D Testing and Drilling, got the project and no evidence the firm had experience on this type of project. The company was owned by Rickey Rowe, a close friend and major campaign supporter of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, prosecutors said.
“They subcontracted almost all of the work,� Ward said of Rowe’s company.
Campbell had signed off on the project.
Campbell has consistently maintained his innocence through the trial and blamed underlings for any corruption at City Hall.
Prosecutors say he ran the city as a criminal enterprise and squeezed contractors, including Rowe, for cash in exchange for lucrative city contracts.
Ward said the audit showed that another company with more experience had sent a $6.1 million proposal for the Stanton Park project and included bonding to insure the cost would not rise.
Instead, she said R&D got the project, without the insurance, and the price rose to $8.8 million.
“They did not finish all the work and they did not pay all of the subcontractors,� she testified. “It put the city at risk – a financial risk.�
The city ended up paying $1 million to two of the subcontractors and Rowe’s company still ended up with $7.6 million, she said. Rowe has since died.
Permalink | | Categories: Bill Campbell trial
2nd alleged ex-girlfriend set to appear
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Six witnesses are headed to the stand today in the federal corruption trial of former Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell. One - Martina Jimenez - is the greatest source of buzz outside the courtroom.
Jimenez, a 34-year-old Buckhead financial adviser, allegedly had an affair with Campbell. She would be the second woman in the trial to testify she was the married mayor’s girlfriend.
Last week, another former Campbell girlfriend, former WSB-TV reporter Marion Brooks, testified she had a 4-year-affair with the mayor, including a trip to Paris, which prosecutors claim was partially paid for by city contractor United Water.
Prosecutors said they put Brooks on the stand to testify about Campbell’s spending habits. She said Campbell paid for dozens their in cash. The prosecution maintains a lot of that cash is from bribes and illegal campaignn contributions.
Defense attorneys say Brooks was brought to the stand to damage Campbell’s credibility with the jury. It’s not clear what Jimenez will testify about.
Other witnesses today, include: Randy Ferguson, a city contractor; Theresa Griffith; Gary Thacker, a city contractor; Sam Cook, and Leslie Ward.
Permalink | | Categories: Bill Campbell trial
