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DEL.ICIO.USFormer city attorney struggles on witness stand
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Atlanta City Attorney Susan Langford returned to the stand Friday morning in the federal corruption trial of former Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell, and her memory continued to fail her.
She answered “I don’t recallâ€? more than 50 times during about 45 minutes of contentious cross-examination by Assistant U. S. Attorney Sally Yates about her handling of the city’s legal matters.
Langford was asked about her involvement in giving and revoking liquor licenses to Atlanta strip club owner Michael Childs, who the prosecution alleges paid Campbell about $50,000 in bribes to get licenses.
Langford, who remained calm on the stand as Yates peppered her with questions, said she didn’t recall whether she overruled the license board’s decision to revoke the license for Club Nikki’s, owned by Childs, because of a series of shootings, fights and other ordinance violations at the club.
At that point, Yates showed Langford a document detailing the hearing in which, claimed Yates, Langford ignored the wishes of the board and issued a renewal of Nikki’s license anyway.
“Does that refresh your recollection of what happened?� asked Yates.
“It really does not,� said Langford. “I just do not recall.�
Langford also testified that she did not know that Michael Coleman was Campbell’s personal attorney. Then Yates showed her documents, which Langford had seen while she was city attorney, indicating that Coleman represented Campbell.
Langford said: “Perhaps I misspoke.�
Prosecutors have tried to show that Campbell took bribes from Childs and, in exchange, promised to give the club owner liquor licenses, but bowed to political pressure and reneged on his deal. They claim Langford was a close ally of Campbell’s and did his bidding, although City Council members frequently questioned her actions and judgment as city attorney.
On direct examination Thursday, Langford said she reported rumors that Childs had bribed Campbell to Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard.
Yates asked her about the timing of her report to Howard. Didn’t she wait until after Campbell revoked Child’s liquor license before she reported the alleged bribe to the district attorney?
“Yes,” said Langford.
“Do you recall Mr. Howard saying it would have been an entirely different matter if Mr. Campbell had not revoked the liquor license?� asked Yates.
“I don’t recall,” the former city attorney said.
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