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Monday, February 27, 2006
Andrew Young to be first defense witness
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young will be the first defense witness called in the federal corruption trial of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell.
Young, a former U.N. ambassador, served terms as mayor from 1982 until 1990.
In an interview before Campbell’s trial began more than a month ago, Young likened the case to O.J. Simpson’s.
“This can be an O.J. Simpson trial,” Young said. “No one who’s white thinks he’s innocent. No one who’s black thinks he’s guilty.”
Young was mayor when Campbell was an ambitious young councilman.
“It’s not a personal tragedy, it’s an American tragedy,” Young said of Campbell’s struggles, including being the first to integrate public schools in Raleigh, N.C.. “His whole life, they were trying to break his spirit. He sees the trial as a continuation of what he’s gone through since first grade: Can a smart, uppity black man make it?”
Young also noted that as a politician, Campbell “had an anti-establishment attitude. … It was a fatal style. He divided the world into friends and enemies. His style was to fight enemies and help friends.”
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Campbell’s attorneys ask that case be dismissed
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Attorneys for Bill Campbell argued Monday morning that the federal corruption case against the former Atlanta mayor should be dismissed for lack of evidence and hinted at the direction their defense will take if U.S. District Judge Richard Story denies their motion.
The government called its last prosecution witness Friday, ending five weeks of testimony against Campbell, who is accused of racketeering, taking bribes, tax evasion, and misusing campaign funds.
Defense attorneys routinely ask that a case be thrown out for lack of evidence after the prosecution rests. Jurors are not in the courtroom today; the arguments are before the judge. The first defense witness is scheduled to take the stand Tuesday morning.
Campbell attorney Billy Martin attacked the government’s contention that Campbell’s trip to Paris with TV anchor Marion Brooks in July 1999 was illegal because city contractor United Water footed part of the bill for the 4-day excursion.
He said the fact that Campbell traveled with Brooks was irrelevant to the government’s case. The intent, he said, of putting her on the stand to testify about the trip and their affair was the “muddling of our client’s personal conduct.â€?
He said press coverage of Brooks’ “salaciousâ€? testimony underscored that claim: “It sells newspapers,â€? he said. “It gets people’s attention.â€?
The government failed to prove that Campbell received any kind of bribe or illegal compensation from United Water, Martin said. Since Campbell did meet with United Water officials while he was in Paris, it cannot be proved it wasn’t a legitimate business trip, he said.
Prosecutors claim that Campbell signed contract extensions for United Water, worth about $80 million, in December 2001, just before he left office. Martin said the government failed to prove that contention and did not call a key witness, DeWayne Martin, the former Chief Operating Officer of Atlanta, because he was in on the deal. DeWayne Martin has a plea agreement with the government.
“DeWayne Martin is the one we believe signed those contracts,� said Martin. Earlier in the trial, prosecutors called a handwriting expert to testify the documents were signed by Campbell.
Defense Attorney Jerry Froelich argued for the dismissal of many of the 11 counts against the former mayor and said the government case against Campbell for illegal campaign contributions and abuse of campaign funds is particularly weak.
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Campbell trial resumes today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The federal corruption trial of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell resumed today at U.S. District Court in Atlanta.
Campbell’s defense team is expected to try to have the case thrown out, or some of the charges dismissed. If unsuccessful, the defense is expected to begin calling witnesses until Tuesday. The prosecution finished presenting its case last week.
Judge Richard Story also is expected to hear other motions in the case today.
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