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March 2006
Ex-Campbell aide defends testimony
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dewey Clark, one of the key prosecution witnesses in the federal corruption trial of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, said he told the truth when he testified Campbell accepted bribes, despite a jury finding Campbell guilty of only tax evasion.
Clark, who has known the former mayor for two decades, who lived with for six years and was his personal assistant, said Campbell and his attorneys tried to set him up to take the fall in the corruption case.
“I was not going to go to jail, I was not going to lie for Bill Campbell when he was trying to turn the whole thing on me,” Clark said on the Frank Ski and Wanda Morning Show on V-103. “I was betrayed by the mayor.”
A jury acquitted Campbell of corruption in the seven-count indictment against him but found him guilty of three counts of tax evasion for not reporting $147,000 of outside income while in office. Sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Story is expected within several months.
During the trial Clark testified that he personally gave the mayor about $50,000 in bribes from a strip club owner seeking a business license.
He said he was surprised when the FBI began questioning him about alleged corruption. “I never went to the feds, but when they came to me, I was willing to cooperate,” he said. But he said he was only willing to cooperate after he felt he was being set up for Campbell and his attorneys.
“I would have taken charges for the mayor if the mayor had asked me,” Clark said. “He never asked me to take charges. What he did was he tried to set me up so I could take the whole downfall.” Clark said he was so adamant about telling the truth that he talked to the government 26 times without an attorney.
“I hope God himself will take me, throw my soul in the deepest pit of hell if I’ve lied on Bill Campbell,” Clark said on V103.
Clark was one of several people involved in the trial, including U.S. Attorney David Nahmias and two jurors, who were interviewed by Frank Ski on V-103. Nahmias also spoke earlier to Rick Blalock on WAOK-AM, V103’s sister station on the AM dial.
Ski, a staunch supporter of the mayor, repeatedly said that Campbell would appear on the radio show as the former mayor had done before the trial began eight weeks ago. But after Clark’s interview, which was added at the last minute, the radio host announced that Campbell’s attorneys were “adamant” in advising the former mayor not to appear. Ski didn’t specifically single out Clark’s comments as being the reason Campbell decided not to appear. He only referred to “powerful” comments throughout the morning.
Asked if he could say something to Campbell, whom he said he hadn’t seen in five years, before he was called to testify, Clark said he would tell him to tell the truth.
Two unidentified jurors who appeared on the radio show said Campbell was not convicted of corruption because prosecutors had not proven their case. They also said they had difficulty believing Clark and the government’s witnesses, several of whom had plea deals with the prosecution. It was a detail on which defense attorneys repeatedly reminded jurors.
“There was some evidence that they presented that made it seem like they were out to get him, but the evidence was not enough to get him,” one juror on the radio said. “We couldn’t believe the witnesses. They had so many plea deals.”
Over the weekend, three other jurors, including the foreman, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that they were close to convicting Campbell of racketeering but confusion over a date when he allegedly accepted a bribe prompted them to give Campbell the benefit of a doubt. To be convicted of corruption, Campbell would have had to be found guilty of two of 11 acts alleged by the government under the federal racketeering law. He was found guilty of only one of those acts — mail fraud related to using campaign contributions for personal reasons.
Campbell’s personal attorney, Michael Coleman, who also appeared on V103 today, chafed at a suggestion that Campbell barely beat the corruption charges because the jury was confused about certain aspects of the case.
“To suggest that the mayor squeaked by is misleading at best,” Coleman said. He also said Campbell is very concerned about the tax fraud conviction.
“He is chargrined and recognized that they have serious consequences,” Campbell said.
Earlier on V103, Nahmias, the U.S. attorney, defended the six-year investigation into corruption at City Hall under Campbell’s watch. He said prosecutors were not targeting Campbell for personal reasons and that it was obligated to launch an investigation after it received allegations of wrongdoing.
Nahmias also said there was no “army” of government staffers on the case.
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CAMPBELL GUILTY ON TAX CHARGES
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell was convicted today on three counts of tax evasion but was found not guilty of the more serious charges of federal corruption.
A jury of seven blacks and five whites deliberated two days before voting to convict Campbell on charges that he had $147,000 of unreported income in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
“Obviously it’s a difficult day for me and my family,” Campbell said outside the courthouse with his wife, Sharon, at his side. He was surrounded by family and supporters.. ” I was proven innocent of the substantial charges. We’ll deal with the tax charges.”
The former mayor called it “a fair trial. The jury gave me the opportunity to present my case. The judge was fair. Obviously, I have great regret the jury found me guilty of anything.”
He added, “It was a fairly quick decision to reject all the RICO charges.”
Campbell said that if he could do anything differently, he would “ have an accountant who paid more attention to filing my taxes,” Campbell said. “It is difficult as mayor, as a husband and as a father to do all of that. I was a sloppy record keeper.”
Prosecutors had pushed for guilty verdicts on racketeering, bribery and tax evasion, claiming that Campbell ran City Hall as a criminal enterprise. The government’s case, built from a six-year investigation, was largely circumstantial and produced 1,200 exhibits and more than 70 witnesses.
Asked if he was disappointed that Campbell was only convicted on the three tax counts, U. S. Attorney David Nahmias said, “He’s a convicted felon; he’s going to jail.”
U.S. District Judge Richard Story could sentence Campbell to prison, fine the former mayor or give him probation. The judge said a sentencing date will be set after a pre-sentencing report is conducted. That report will include a range of information on Campbell. The report often takes three months to compile.
During the sentencing hearing the defendant will likely call character witnesses to speak in his behalf.
Michael Langford, who worked in City Hall when Campbell was in office and is a diehard Campbell loyalist, said, “I feel very good about the verdict. The charge we were most concerned about was the corrupt payments. The jury confirmed the early lie detector test the mayor took showed that he was innocent of taking any payments.”
In trying to build its corruption case, prosecutors produced just three witnesses who put money in Campbell’s hands. Personal assistant Dewey Clark and Dan DeBardelaben, a longtime friend and golfing buddy, said they passed cash bribes directly to Campbell. Joseph Reid, former deputy chief operating officer, said he raised illegal donations and gave them, some in cash, to the former mayor.
Prosecutors continully hammered away at Campbell’s voracious cash-spending habits that continually grew during his tenure as mayor. But his cash withdrawls shrank each year as prosecutors said he was increasingly on the take. He withdrew just $69 from his checking account in all of 1999 even though he took many trips with family and female acquaintances both inside and outside the country, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Campbell used city contractors as “human ATMs,” dispensing thousands of dollars of cash for him to spend gambling, travel and chasing women.
The prosecution’s final witness was an IRS agent, who detailed Campbell proliferate use of cash.
“Even if every single government witness is lying, Bill Campbell is still guilty of tax fraud, and they can’t wiggle out of that,” assistant U.S. attorney Sally Yates said.
Campbell’s attorneys argued others in his administration — including friends and close confidants, were corrupt and had taken advantage of him.
Defense attorneys frequently argued that prosecutors “bought” testimony by giving immunity to witnesses like Greene and Clark, who had their own legal problems.
The defense derided the government’s six-year investigation.
“When’s the last time the IRS went through your grocery bill and gas bill?” Martin asked. “An army of people with unlimited resources and that’s the best they could do?”
“What the government did in this case was outrageous,” he said. “They’ve examined every piece of paper in the life of Bill Campbell.”
Consumer advocate and radio talk show host Clark Howard said he was “thrilled” with the verdict.
“Obviously, its a compromise verdict. But the jury said there was not just smoke, there was fire. I just hope he ends up where he belongs — prison. I said years ago on my show that the only thing missing from his shirt was a prison number. Now, hopefully, he’ll get it.”
“The reason I was so vehement with this guy is because he is a human tragedy. He had such great capability and he threw it away in the search for power, for arrogance and the desire for money. He harmed our city and harmed himself. He was a very charming bright man who blew it.”
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Jury reaches verdict in Campbell trial
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The jury in the federal corruption trial of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell has reached a verdict.
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Deputy to jurors: Lights switch off at 7 p.m.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jurors now deliberating in the federal corruption trial of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell had the option of going home at 5 p.m. today and returning Monday, but they have opted to stay and continue their discussions.
Rick Goss, the courtroom deputy for U.S. District Judge Richard Story, told the 12 jurors that it’s up to them to continue deliberations.
But Goss also reminded the group that the heating and air-conditioning system at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building in downtown Atlanta is programmed to switch off at 6 p.m.
Lignts, the deputy said, automatically cut off at 7 p.m.
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Jury asks judge about speaking fees
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jurors in the federal corruption trial of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell opened their second day of deliberation by sending a note to the judge.
U.S. District Judge Richard Story was asked if it’s illegal for the mayor to accept a speaking fee from a vendor doing business with the city.
Though the note did not indicate what allegation the jury was referring to, city vendor George Green allegedly gave Campbell $5,000 to give a speech to employees of his company, Sable Communications.
Story called attorneys for the defense and the prosecution into his courtroom about 10:30 to wrangle over the wording of his answer to the jury.
The jury was not called into the courtroom.
Story sent a written response back telling the jury that accepting a speaking fee is not “in and of itself illegal,” and it would violate the law only if it’s a bribe or exceeds $101 and directly relates to the recipient’s official duties.
The speech reference is included in the No. 7 act in the racketeering count.
If the jury is going in order, it is almost half way through the 17 alleged crimes it must vote guilty or not guilty on.
During the session between the judge and the attorneys, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally Yates motioned toward a stack of eight boxes in the corner of the courtroom.
“I noticed there are boxes of bank records in the courtroom,” she said, asking if the jury could get to them. The judge said he would move the boxes to the hall outside the jury room. “It’s already a pretty tight fit in there,” he said.
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Campbell jury to resume deliberations
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jurors will continue deliberations in U. S. District Court today in the trial of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell.
On Thursday morning, Judge Richard Story interrupted the trial when FBI agents arrived with what appeared to be a letter. Story called attorneys for both sides to the bench. During the conversation, one defense attorney, Jerry Froelich, was overheard saying, "This is a serious matter."
After spending about an hour discussing the letter, the judge reappeared. "We had a potential juror issue," Story said. "It has been determined all is well. We’re fine with the jury at this point." The judge would not elaborate.
The jury deliberated for several hours Thursday, winding up at 5:15 p.m. They are scheduled to continue their work at 9 a.m. today.
Campbell is charged with racketeering, accepting bribes and evading taxes during his term in office from 1994 to 2002.
Campbell verdict
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Jury deliberations resume 9 a.m. Friday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jurors wrapped up their first day of deliberations Thursday in the federal corruption trial of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell. They will resume discussions on the seven-count indictment Friday at 9 a.m.
The trial was expected to last six to eight weeks. Testimony was completed this week, with closing statements Wednesday.
U.S. Attorney David Nahmias said outside the Richard B. Russell Federal Building on Thursday, “We’re very pleased that the trial proceeded much quicker than expected.”
More than 80 witnesses were presented — 72 for the prosecution — hundreds of exhibits, and five hours of closing arguments by six attorneys.
“He [Campbell] has received what he acknowledged was a fair trial,” said Nahmias, “and what he acknowledged was a fair judge…[and] this was a jury that was a good representation of our community.”
Campbell acknowledged Wednesday that he thought he had gotten a fair trial.
The former mayor, who has pleaded not guilty, is accused of racketeering, bribery and tax evasion. He served as Atlanta’s mayor from 1994 until 2001.
The jury of seven men and five women — seven black and five white — will not be sequestered.
In his instructions, Judge Richard Story told jurors they could work as late as they wished. They ended deliberations shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday.
They have many matters to decide after a trial during which testimony was detailed and the case complex. The racketeering charge, the first count in the indictment, has 11 different acts alleged.
There are six other counts in the indictment. That means the jury will have to vote guilty, or not guilty, on 17 different crimes.
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Judge: “All is well” with Campbell jury
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Story said “all is well” after he interrupted the federal corruption trial of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell briefly today when FBI agents arrived with what appeared to be a mysterious letter.
“We had a potential juror issue,” Story said at about 11:20 a.m. “It has been determined all is well. We’re fine with the jury at this point.”
The judge would not elaborate.
Agents arrived at about 10:20 a.m., just after the judge had instructed the 12-member jury on their impending deliberations. Just after the jury left the courtroom, federal agents walked in with what appeared to be a letter and went straight to the bench.
Story called attorneys for the prosecution and the defense to the bench. During the conversation, one defense attorney, Jerry Froelich, was overheard saying, “This is a serious matter.”
The letter appeared to be type written, several paragraphs in length. It was signed at the bottom.
Campbell, with his wife, Sharon, were in the courtroom when the agents arrived, and he left the courtroom briefly with his attorneys.
Court began today with Story instructing the jury on the seven-count indictment against Campbell covering racketeering, bribery and tax evasion charges.
After spending about an hour discussing the piece of paper, the judge reappeared. He said jurors had taken a lunch break.
The judge said he will leave it up to jurors, who have not been sequestered, to decide how long they will deliberate during the day, or whether deliberations will go into the weekend.
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FBI appears at court with paper; proceedings halted
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The judge in the federal corruption trial of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell abruptly interrupted proceedings today after FBI agents walked into the courtroom with what appeared to be a letter.
The agents took the piece of paper directly to U.S. District Judge Richard Story, who called attorneys for the prosecution and the defense to the bench. During the conversation, one defense attorney, Jerry Froelich, was overheard saying, “This is a serious matter.”
The jury had just left the courtroom around 10:20 a.m. to begin deliberations when the agents appeared. It could not be determined whether the piece of paper involved one of the 12 jurors.
The letter appeared to be typewritten, several paragraphs in length. It was signed at the bottom.
After the discussions at the bench, the judge halted court and he and attorneys for both sides left the courtroom. The FBI agents remained in the courtroom with other observers, including the news media.
Court began today at 9:15 a.m. with Story instructing the jury on the seven-count indictment against Campbell covering racketeering, bribery and tax evasion charges.
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Defense attacks credibility of government witnesses
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Defense attorney Billy Martin opened the defense’s closing argument telling the jury the government has not proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and if there were a movie title suited to their investigation and prosecution of the former mayor, it’s “Kill Bill.”
He said the government has interviewed hundreds of witnesses and spent millions of dollars investigating Campbell. “Why did they go after him?” asked Martin. “Because he was the mayor.”
He asked jurors: “When was the last time the IRS went through your grocery bills?”
Martin reminded jurors that Andrew Young - whom he described as a “hero in America” - testified for Campbell and recalled from the stand how Campbell, as a 7-year-old child, had integrated public schools in Raleigh, N.C., and that should be his legacy, and his mayorship, not the way the prosecution has portrayed him, as a gambler who took bribes and had girlfriends.
“They hope to make you so mad at Bill Campbell that you will lose sight of justice,” said Martin.
He attacked the prosecution’s key witnesses - Dan DeBardelaben, and Dewey Clark - who were the only two to testify they gave Campbell bribes, saying they could not be believed.
He said Dewey Clark was like the Memphis pimp in the movie “Hustle & Flow” who took advantage of Campbell. He said that Campbell let Clark live in the basement of his Inman Park home out of “the kindness of his heart.”
He said that Clark’s claim that he gave Campbell about $50,000 in bribes was a lie, that Clark kept the money himself.
“There was no agreement between Michael Childs and the mayor, “ he said. “If there was, they would have brought him [Childs] in” to the courtroom to testify, which they did not.
The defense attacked the government’s claims that Campbell had so much cash because he took bribes, saying that Campbell’s cash life was fueled by his gambling winnings, and reminded the jury that witness Gabe Pascarella estimated Campbell won as much as $20,000 a year gambling.
Martin said if the jury discounted the thousands of dollars the government alleges that Campbell took as bribes, that Campbell’s unreported income is hardly criminal. “Bill Campbell has tried to do the right thing with his taxes, “ he said. “He’s a horrible record keeper. Criminal tax laws do not punish you for making a mistake. … He’s not hiding his income and he’s not avoiding his taxes.”
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Campbell had “human ATMs,” prosecutors say in closing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While mayor of Atlanta, Bill Campbell led a secret life of high-stakes gambling and women paid for through illegal bribes by city contractors, prosecutors told jurors today during their closing arguments.
“’What’s in it for me?’ Those words, his own words show what governed his conduct as mayor, particularly in his second term,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Vineyard said of Campbell’s tenure, from 1994 through 2001.
About 100 spectators and attorneys crammed in the small courtroom to see the final chapter in the government’s public corruption case that took more than five years to investigate and seven weeks to present to a jury. On a large projection screen, prosecutors used flashy graphics, green dollar bills and gambling cards, along with phone and bank records and city documents to drive home their last arguments.
A key theme for prosecutors: follow the money.
Campbell withdrew just $69 in all of 1999 from his checking account even though he took several trips and often paid for expenses in cash, Vineyard said.
Campbell and one of his alleged mistresses, Martina Jimenez, took a trip to New Orleans from June 12-14, 1999. The next day, the mayor and his wife headed to the Bahamas. Campbell then returned and immediately headed to Myrtle Beach.
In July 1999, the mayor spent a few days with his wife and children in Puerto Rico. Four days later, he headed to Miami with Jimenez before jetting off to Paris with another long-term girlfriend, Marion Brooks, Vineyard told jurors. Both women testified that Campbell paid for hotels, meals and other expenses in cash, yet the mayor’s bank records show he didn’t withdraw even $1, Vineyard argued. In August, there were trips to Chicago, where Brooks works as a TV news anchor and to Memphis with Jimenez along with trips to Washington, D.C. and Raleigh.
That summer, the mayor’s longtime friend and golfing buddy, Dan DeBardelaben claims he gave the mayor about $50,000 in cash bribes from city contractor Sam Barber, who wanted a multi-million dollar Y2K contract with the city.
“The summer of 1999 is just a snapshot of how the mayor funded his secret life with corrupt payoffs,” Vineyard said. “He had human ATMs.”
DeBardelaben testified during the trial that in spring 1999, he asked Campbell about the Y2K project and the mayor responded: “What’s in it for me?” — which prompted the bribes. DeBardelaben, a loyal friend who supported all of Campbell’s campaigns as city councilman and mayor, initially didn’t want to testify against Campbell and would report back to Campbell after the FBI asked him questions. But he finally started telling the truth after he was court-ordered to testify under oath, prosecutors said.
On a large board near the jurors, prosecutors displayed an enlarged 1993 flier with a photo of a younger Campbell, still with thick hair and eyeglasses, and a written campaign promise to put the city’s interests first and not to abuse his power if he won his first election as mayor. Throughout their closing arguments, prosecutors periodically placed large photos cut into the shape of jumbo puzzle pieces into place over the campaign flier.
The photos were of Campbell and his former aide, Dewey Clark, and city contractors, including, Rickey Rowe, Fred Prewitt and Dan DeBardelaben – all of whom prosecutors say gave Campbell cash bribes.
With the photos locked into place, one corner of the puzzle was left blank.
Vineyard looked at the jurors and said: “Your verdict is the final piece of the puzzle … It will be the last word on what Bill Campbell did as mayor.”
Defense attorneys are now in the middle of their closing arguments. They spent five days calling defense witnesses, but not Campbell, who opted not to testify.
Campbell has publicly maintained his innocence and blames a few trusted underlings and friends with abusing his name and soliciting bribes themselves.
Campbell said DeBardelaben is a friend who turned on him only after being pressured by the IRS. Campbell’s attorneys say Clark, another key government witness, is a shady character who used the mayor’s name to line his own pockets.
Campbell has publicly said the cash he spent came from gambling winnings he didn’t keep track of or pay taxes on.
“That simply doesn’t add up,” prosecutor Phyllis Sumner told jurors during closing arguments.
Along with racketeering and bribery, Campbell is charged with filing false tax returns.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally Yates will have the last say, making a brief argument to the jury, since the government has the burden of proof.
The judge will give jurors instructions Thursday morning on what they should consider in reviewing the evidence and then deliberations are expected to begin.
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Jury hearing closing statements today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After five years of investigation and seven weeks of testimony, both sides in the federal corruption trial of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell will make their final statements to the 12-member jury today.
U.S. District Judge Richard Story has given each side two and a half hours to make their case, with several breaks in between.
The prosecution, led by assistant U.S. District Attorney Yates, will go first. The defense team, lead by attorney Billy Martin, will be go next.
The former mayor, 52, is charged with racketeering, bribery and tax fraud, while at the helm of a corrupt administration. He has steadfastly maintained his innocence, calling the case a “persecution,” not a prosecution.
The jury is expected to get the case on Thursday.
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Prosecution rests; closings set for Wednesday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The government closed out its prosecution of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell shortly after noon today.
Judge Richard Story released the jury and told members to return at noon Wednesday to hear closing arguments in the federal corruption case, in its seventh week.
Story told prosecution and defense lawyers they have two and a half hours each for their closing arguments.
He told jurors, allowing for breaks, they will be in the courtroom past 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Story said he would give the jury its charge — explain to them what they must decide — at 9 a.m. Thursday morning, then give them the case for deliberation.
Campbell, who did not testify in the case, is accused of bribery, racketeering and tax fraud in a seven-count indictment. He has pleaded not guilty
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Rebuttal witness refutes defense testimony
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After Bill Campbell’s defense team rested today, prosecutors began calling rebuttal witnesses, including Mayor Shirley Franklin’s chief of staff.
Greg Pridgeon, who also briefly served as chief of staff during Campbell’s last year as mayor, refuted testimony from a previous defense witness about multi-million dollar amendments made to a city contract just as Campbell was leaving office in December 2001. Prosecutors allege that Campbell signed the United Water documents – worth an estimated $80 million over the life of the contract – after United Water paid more than $12,000 for the mayor’s 1999 romantic trip to Paris with one of his alleged girlfriends.
Campbell has denied signing the documents.
Eunice Lockhart-Moss, Campbell’s special assistant, testified last week that Campbell refused to sign the United Water documents. She told jurors that Campbell’s chief operating officer, DeWayne Martin, snatched the United Water documents while she was showing them to Pridgeon in December 2001 —- after Campbell had already vacated his City Hall office. Moss said Martin later implied that he signed the documents, forging the mayor’s signature.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Vineyard asked Pridgeon: “At any time did Dwayne Martin ever reach around you and take documents from your hands?” Pridgeon responded:
“No, he did not. I would remember such an incident because it would have been out of character and would have stood out in my mind.”
Campbell is charged with soliciting thousands of dollars in bribes from contractors, including United Water, and using the cash for gambling trips with buddies and romantic getaways with alleged girlfriends. Campbell has publicly maintained his innocence on charges of bribery, racketeering and tax fraud.
He opted not to testify and the defense rested its case this morning, in the seventh week of the federal public corruption trial.
Prosecutors are still presenting rebuttal witnesses.
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Rebuttal witnesses to be called today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The prosecution is calling rebuttal witnesses today and both sides plan to deliver their closing arguements to the jury Thursday in the federal corruption trial of former Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell.
Prosectors declined to say what or how many witness they will bring to the stand today to refute defense witness who have testified over the last five days. In all more than 80 witness have testified in the trial, in its seventh week.
Campbell is charged with racketeering, taking bribes and tax evasion.
On Monday the former mayor — who has often publicly declared he wants to testify in his own defense — said he had decided not to because prosecutors would not agree not to ask him about his personal life, that their case so far has not been about corruption, but rather character assassination.
U.S. Attorney David Nahmias issued a statement saying the government will not “make special exceptions for this defendent. All our questions would be relevant to the alleged criminal offenses.”
The prosecution maintains that the former mayor’s crimes are inseperable from his personal life. He took trips with women and gambled with cash the government claims sometimes was bribe money from city contractors.
The jury is expected to get the case either late Thursday, or Friday morning.
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Campbell says he won’t testify
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bill Campbell said this afternoon he would not testify in his own defense.
U.S. District Judge Richard Story pressed the former Atlanta mayor for a decision today so he could determine scheduling for the last phase of the federal corruption trial.
After dismissing the jury around noon, Story had given Campbell until the lunch break ended around 2 to make his decision. Asked by Story this afternoon whether would to testify, Campbell first responded, “I would actually like a little bit more time” to decide.
Story said he could have a few minutes to consult his lawyers, but Campbell instead responded, “Your honor, it is my inclination not to testify.”
Barring a change of heart by Campbell, the last defense witness could be IRS Special Agent Bill Salinski, who will take the stand tomorrow morning. Then prosecutors are expected to call rebuttal witnesses. Closing arguments by both sides could be later this week.
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Will Campbell testify? Decision today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Will Bill Campbell testify in his own defense?
That question may be answered this afternoon and Campbell — facing federal charges for racketeering, bribery, and tax evasion — could take the stand as early as tomorrow if the defense puts him on the stand.
U.S. District Judge Richard Story dismissed the jury around noon and asked them to return Tuesday while prosecution and defense attorneys make declarations and argue over the final defense witnesses.
Story said, with the jury out of the room, “Mr. Campbell, I will be asking you to make an election whether your are going to testify, when we return” at 2 o’clock, after the lunch break.”
Campbell has said repeatedly he wants to testify. He has never said flatly he will testify.
If Campbell does not testify, the last defense witness may be IRS Special Agent Bill Salinski, who will take the stand Tuesday morning. Then prosecutors are expected to call rebuttal witnesses. Closing arguments by both sides could be later this week.
In earlier testimony, attorney Michael Coleman testified today that his client and longtime personal friend Bill Campbell would never accept a bribe.
Coleman, who is Campbell’s personal attorney and not part of the defense team, also told jurors that the former mayor and Campbell’s campaign treasurer, Steve Labovitz, took steps to make sure campaign funds were spent appropriately.
Labovitz “was very concerned he was doing things in compliance with the law,” Coleman told jurors.
This is the seventh week of Campbell’s public corruption trial and the second week for his side to call witnesses.
Prosecutors allege that Campbell solicited bribes from city contractors, funneled the money into his campaign warchest and then misused the money to pay for gambling trips with buddies and hotel stays with girlfriends.
Campbell acknowledges there was corruption in his administration but blames a few of his underlings for abusing his trust – and his name — by soliciting and keeping the bribes themselves. He insists he is innocent.
Coleman testified that he has never known the mayor to accept a bribe from mayoral aide Dewey Clark, an admitted bagman, strip club owner Michael Childs or anyone else.
Clark and the mayor’s former secretary, Serena Skaggs, testified earlier about alleged bribes Childs gave the mayor in exchange for a liquor license to open up a new strip club Strawberries and renew the liquor license for another controversial club. Clark told jurors the mayor took the bribe, about $50,000, but later caved to political pressure to not grant the licenses.
Skaggs testified that while working at City Hall, she overheard a conversation between Clark and Campbell in the kitchen suite next to the mayor’s office.
Skaggs, a soft-spoken single mother, said she overheard Clark tell Campbell: “You know you took that boy’s [Childs’] money.” To which she said Campbell responded, “Technically, I didn’t; you did.”
Skaggs said she initially balked at talking with FBI agents for fear the mayor would fire her.
But Coleman testified Skaggs told him she never heard the conversation. “She indicated she had not overheard any argument,” Coleman said.
Coleman also was the second defense witness to testify that Campbell didn’t sign a lucrative water deal for a contractor who prosecutors claim paid off the mayor.
Prosecutors say Campbell extended the contract of United Water just days before he left office in December 2001, and then publicly denied “knowingly” signing the deal, worth about $80 million.
Prosecutors claim United Water, which had a contract to manage Atlanta’s water system, footed the $12,000 bill when Campbell took a female companion on a four-day trip to Paris in July 1999.
But defense witness Eunice Lockhart-Moss, the mayor’s special assistant, told jurors Campbell refused to sign the United Water documents before he left office in December 2001 and he never saw them until six months later.
Coleman said it was his idea to advise the mayor to say he didn’t “knowingly” sign the papers instead of issuing an outright denial.
“He was adamant he had not signed them,” the lawyer told jurors.
Coleman said he decided to play it safe in case someone slipped the contract in the mayor’s stack of papers as the mayor was preparing to leave office.
Coleman said he tried to get a copy of the United Water documents from city officials but no one could find a copy. The defense claims the mayor’s chief operating officer, DeWayne Martin, forged the mayor’s signature and didn’t leave a copy at City Hall.
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Lawyer insists Campbell wouldn’t take a bribe
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell’s longtime friend and personal attorney testified for the defense today that Campbell would never take a bribe.
Michael Coleman was first person on the witness stand, Testimony began late today, starting at 10:30 a.m. instead of its normal 9 a.m. start.
Coleman, who said he has known Campbell for 25 years, also testified Campbell told him he never signed papers granting United Water a multimillion-dollar extension of a city water management contract. Prosecutors have accused Campbell of awarding contracts in exchange for payoffs. Prosecutors say United Water funded a trip to Paris that the mayor took with a female companion in 1997. The company later received the contract extention.
Campbell’s defense team, however, argued that Campbell never signed the documents and presented witnesses who said another staffer signed the papers.
Campbell himself has said he did not “knowingly” sign the papers. He has said he lacked authority to grant such a payment without council approval. In an October 2002 statement, he said he never saw the papers and wouldn’t have signed them if he had.
Last year, the city severed its operating agreement with United Water.
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Campaign treasurer: I never knowingly violated law
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Steven Labovitz, Bill Campbell’s longtime friend, said he never knowingly violated any campaign laws while working as campaign treasurer in the 1997 mayoral election.
He laid discrepancies and illegal campaign contributions at the feet of deceased Campbell friend Rickey Rowe. Asked by defense attorney Billy Martin if he ever authorized any illegal contributions, Labovitz responded. “Absolutely not. My integrity is incredibly important to me. I would never do anything like that.?
Labovitz said he “loved? Campbell but would not lie for him.
Labovitz’s testimony was in response to previous government testimony from businessman Ronnie Thornton who said he gave the campaign $126,000 in illegal campaign contributions in 1997 after being told by the mayor he needed to give at least $100,000 in donations or he would not be able to get a huge construction contract at the airport.
The campaign was in a run-off in 1997 with Marvin Arrington, then city council president, and was scrambling to get money. After quickly getting the money orders, Thornton testified he told the mayor he had to provide a list of straw donors.
On Friday, Labovitz, Campbell’s former law partner and first chief of staff, testified that Rowe came to him with numerous money orders, which Labovitz found unusual.
“I looked at Mr. Rowe and asked if these all are valid, he said they were,? recalled Labovitz.
Many of the money orders had no addresses or occupations to go along with the names. Labovitz said he asked Rowe to provide these, which he did. Labovitz said he then took the information provided by Rowe and wrote it down, deposited the checks and then disclosed them as required by law.
He said he never recalled meeting Thornton and “I never talked to Ronnie Thornton about these campaign contributions.?
Asked if he reconciled the names, addresses and business professions of campaign contributors for disclosure purposes, as required by law, Labovitz answered he did not.
He said he expected accountant Norman Ross, the brother of campaign manager Kevin Ross “to fill it out completely and make sure we were in compliance with all aspects of the law.?
“I was very proud with the kind of bookkeeping job we did,? Labovitz testified.
Labovitz said he worked full time with Campbell’s 1993 campaign even though he was a “novice? in politics. He said he was “pretty meticulous? in documenting every campaign donation and expenditure.
However, by the 1997 re-election campaign, Labovitz had gone back into private practice and did not have the same amount of time to devote to the campaign, even though he was the treasurer. “I was rarely in the campaign headquarters,? he said.
Labovitz said he was “very conservative? with the campaign money. He said they raised $3 million in 1993 and nearly $4 million in 1997.
He said that Campbell did not have a close knowledge of the contributions coming in or the campaign’s expenses.
Labovitz also testified about raising money after Campbell was re-elected in 1997 to pay off debts and to have a fund that allowed the mayor to have “money in the furtherance off (his) office.?
Prosecutors have alleged that this was a slush fund where Campbell used campaign contributions for personal use. Labovitz said Campbell sometimes used the money for political purposes, such as tickets for the Super Bowl or making contributions to other campaigns and charities.
“That makes him a more effective politician,? Labovitz said.
Labovitz said that paying for cell phone bills for Campbell family members was a legitimate expense. He said that he went over the allowable expenditures of that fund with Troutman Sanders, a prominent law firm.
Labovitz also name-dropped in his testimony, saying former mayor Maynard Jackson was a supporter and developer Mack Taylor was an early fund-raiser.
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Former 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 recall? 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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Campbell’s campaign money man to testify today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Key figures in former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell’s political life are expected to testify as defense witnesses today as the federal corruption trial closes its sixth week.
Former campaign treasurer and City Hall chief of staff Steve Labovitz and Campbell’s personal attorney, Michael Coleman, are slated to testify.
The prosecution contends Labovitz, who has not been charged with any criminal offense, processed thousands of dollars in phony campaign contributions for Campbell’s 1997 re-election campaign and created a slush fund for Campbell’s personal use.
Part of the federal indictment against Campbell claims he knowingly accepted illegal campaign contributions while he was mayor, but he consistently has denied any knowledge of illegal contributions.
Previously, Kevin Ross, an attorney who chaired Campbell’s political campaigns, testified for the prosecution about Campbell’s inner circle and the key players, including Labovitz, involved in raising more than $3 million for the mayor’s successful re-election bid.
Ross said there were several questionable donations totaling more than $100,000. The donations, in the form of cashier’s checks and money orders, used various donors’ names but all appeared to be in the handwriting of Labovitz, Ross said.
There were also five cashier’s checks totaling $5,000 with the names of five of Campbell’s family members, Ross said. Defense attorneys have agreed that the mayor’s family members’ names were used but they weren’t the true contributors.
The mayor’s personal attorney, Coleman, hasn’t said much publicly since the trial began but has put up a website recapping testimony on most days. He has maintained from the start of the federal investigation that Campbell “was not aware of, didn’t participate in, didn’t condone any illegal activity.”
The website carried this recap of Thursday’s testimony from defense witness Eunice Lockhart-Moss, Campbell’s appointment secretary when he was mayor:
“The Campbell defense team enjoyed another strong day on Wednesday in mounting its defense against the government charges, and further eroded the government’s case.”
Prosecutors this morning were finishing their cross examination of former City Attorney Susan Langford.
Campbell is charged with racketeering, taking bribes, and tax evasion.
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Former city attorney’s testimony to resume
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former City Attorney Susan Langford will be back on the witness stand today as the federal corruption trial of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell closes out its sixth week.
On Thursday, Langford was being vigorously cross-examined by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally Yates when U.S. District Judge Richard Story stopped trial because testimony was running late, past 5 p.m.
The last thing Yates said to Langford was: “Well, Ms. Langford, that’s really not accurate, is it??
Langford responded: “I think it is.?
Then Yates asked her to read a document in question.
Langford testified about the access city contractors had to Campbell while in City Hall. Yates questioned Langford about what the government alleges were Langford’s attempt to thwart the federal investigation of alleged corruption in the Campbell administration.
Campbell is charged with racketeering, taking bribes, and tax evasion. Story said Thursday that the trial is on track to end testimony by the middle of next week.
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Aide: Contractors didn’t routinely have mayor’s ear
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The story defense witness Eunice Lockhart-Moss is telling today about the comings and goings in City Hall during the administration of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell is different than the scenario created by prosecution witnesses over the last five weeks.
Lockhart-Moss is the former appointments secretary for Campbell who resumed her testimony this morning.
The government claims city contractors Fred Prewitt and Rickey Rowe came and went as they pleased in the mayor’s office, as they peddled influence, and gave or passed bribes to the former mayor.
The former mayor is facing federal racketeering charges for taking bribes, running city hall as a criminal enterprise and evading taxes. This is the sixth week of testimony.
Lockhart-Moss said, in her four years of working in the mayors office, she only saw Rickey Rowe on a few occasions, and when Prewitt would come by it was uusually to bring bananas to other staffers, not to see the mayor.
She testified that she never saw Herbert McCall, the city’s former commissioner of administrative services, come into the office.
Attorney Fred Orr completed his direct examination before the morning break. Prosecutors are expected to mount a vigorous cross examination.
On Wednesday, Lockhart-Moss had testified Campbell refused to sign United Water contracts, worth about $80 million, just before he left office in December of 2001.
Prosecutors allege that Campbell extended the contract of United Water just days before he left office in December 2001, and then publicly denied “knowingly” signing the extensions, worth about $80 million.
United Water is one of key elements of the government’s case against Campbell, who is charged with racketeering, taking bribes, illegally raising campaign funds and tax evasion.
Prosecutors claim United Water, which had a contract to manage Atlanta’s water system, footed the $12,000 bill for Campbell’s four-day Paris trip with TV anchor girlfriend, Marion Brooks, in July 1999.
But Lockhart-Moss, told jurors Wednesday that Campbell refused to sign the United Water documents before he left office and he never saw them until six months later.
Instead, she said, DeWayne Martin - the mayor’s former chief operating officer - took the documents from her in December 2001 after Campbell had already vacated his City Hall office.
Lockhart-Moss said Martin later told her: “I have just taken care of some people since your mayor doesn’t know how to take care of people who have helped him.”
Defense attorneys claim Martin, who often signed documents for the mayor, signed the United Water contracts without Campbell’s authorization, although a government handwriting expert testified the signatures were Campbell’s.
Lockhart-Moss’s claim follows Tuesday’s testimony by Campbell former press secretary, Zee Bradford, who said Martin claimed he could so closely duplicate Campbell’s signature “we could hardly tell the difference.”
Another defense witness, Connie Taylor, who was a receptionist in the mayor’s office from January 1994 to 1996, testified that city contractors Rickey Rowe and Fred Prewitt didn’t have the free access to the mayors office that prosecutors allege, and when they did come by, it was to visit the mayor’s special assistant, Dewey Clark - not Campbell.
On cross examination, Assistant U.S. Attorney Phyllis Sumner ticked off all the years Taylor wasn’t in the mayor’s office - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 - when the prosecution alleges Rowe and Prewitt were pervasive figures at City Hall.
Witness Wesley Barnes testified about an August 1997 meeting that took place between him, businessman Howard Sole, Campbell, and Rowe in which Sole’s company pitched a multi-million dollar project to help fix the city’s sewer system.
In earlier testimony, Sole claimed that Rowe approached him after the meeting and said: “I’m not saying the mayor said this, but $100,000 and the contract is yours, regardless of whether he is elected.”
Barnes said he didn’t remember Rowe asking for that $100,000 bribe. But, on cross- examination, he said he wasn’t disputing that at Rowe asked for the $100,000: “I just don’t recall it.”
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More testimony from mayor’s appointment aide
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A former special assistant to former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell is expected to return to the stand for the defense today.
Defense attorney Fred Orr was questioning Eunice Lockhart-Moss on Wednesday when the lawyer announced he wasn’t feeling well. U.S. District Judge Richard Story halted the testimony.
Lockhart-Moss told the jury Campbell never signed contract documents worth millions to United Water, a French-owned company that managed the city’s water system.
Prosecutors allege that Campbell extended United Water’s contract — worth about $80 million over the contract’s life — just days before he left office in December 2001. A handwriting expert for the prosecution testified last month that it was Campbell’s signature on contracts.
But Lockhart-Moss told jurors that Campbell refused to sign the documents before he left office and never saw them until six months later.
She said DeWayne Martin, the mayor’s former chief operating officer who often signed documents for the mayor, took the papers from her in December 2001 after Campbell had vacated his City Hall office. Lockhart-Moss testified that Martin told her he had “taken care? of the documents.
Lockhart-Moss said Martin, who often signed documents for the mayor, later told her: “I have just taken care of some people since your mayor doesn’t know how to take care of people who have helped him.?
Campbell has denied charges that he ran City Hall during his tenure as mayor from 1994 until 2002 as a criminal enterprise. The trial, which was expected to last six to eight weeks, is nearing the end of six weeks of testimony
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Contractors didn’t have free rein, witness says
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While prosecutors presented a case that suggested contractors seeking favors from former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell had free rein at City Hall, a defense witness testified Wednesday that that was not the case.
Connie Taylor, who was a receptionist in the mayor’s office from January 1994 to 1996, in the early years of Campbell’s administration, testified that city contractors Rickey Rowe and Fred Prewittdidn’t have the free access to the mayors office. She said that when the men did come by, it was to visit mayoral aide Dewey Clark - not Campbell.
Clark has testified for the prosecution that he handed the mayor thousands of dollars in payoffs from contractors seeking to do business with the city.
On cross examination of Taylor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Phyllis Sumner, rattled off all the years Taylor wasn’t in the mayor’s office - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 - when the prosecution alleges Rowe and Prewitt were pervasive figures at City Hall, seemingly coming and going at will.
Testimony resumes Thursday.
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Minister allowed to testify for Campbell
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Prosecutors lost a battle today to keep a defense witness from testifying in former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell’s federal corruption trial.
U.S. District Judge Richard Story said it was a close call but he decided to allow Campbell’s team to bring in the Rev. O.L. Blackshear, a minister whose daughter was murdered in 1997 during an armed robbery.
Campbell used $2,000 of his campaign money to offer a reward for the arrest of the gunman who fatally shot Gwendolyn Blackshear Wyche in the back for her purse.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Vineyard agreed to stipulate the mayor funded the reward through campaign funds but said there was no need to bring the father to the stand.
It “falls into good deeds of the mayor? and could unfairly prejudice the jury, Vineyard argued.
Lead defense attorney Billy Martin, however, said Blackshear’s testimony should be allowed since prosecutors got to bring in their own prejudicial testimony attacking the mayor’s character.
“The testimony of Marion Brooks was so prejudicial,? Martin said of Campbell’s former female acquaintance who testified about expensive gifts from Campbell and trips taken with him. “We agreed on every date that was traveled, every expense that was paid? yet prosecutors still brought her to the stand, the defense attorney argued.
The judge agreed to allow the minister to testify but said, “I think it’s dangerous grounds.?
Story instructed the attorneys to avoid asking the father to describe the murder or other emotional details that could play on the sympathies of jurors.
Blackshear could testify later today.
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Witness: Campbell didn’t sign water deal
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A former special assistant to Bill Campbell testified that the former mayor did not sign off on a lucrative contract a water management company received after making political contributions to Campbell and funding his travels.
Eunice Lockhart-Moss told the jury Campbell never signed contract documents worth millions to United Water, a French-owned company that managed the city’s water system.
Prosecutors allege that Campbell extended United Water’s contract — worth about $80 million over the contract’s life — just days before he left office in December 2001. A handwriting expert for the prosecution testified last month that it was Campbell’s signature on contracts.
But Lockhart-Moss told jurors today that Campbell refused to sign the documents before he left office and never saw them until six months later.
Instead, she testified that DeWayne Martin, the mayor’s former chief operating officer, took the documents from her in December 2001 after Campbell had already vacated his City Hall office.
Lockhart-Moss said Martin, who often signed documents for the mayor, later told her: “I have just taken care of some people since your mayor doesn’t know how to take care of people who have helped him.?
Defense attorneys claim Martin signed the documents without Campbell’s authorization.
On Monday, the mayor’s press secretary, Zee Bradford, testified that Martin could so closely duplicate the Campbell’s signature that “we could hardly tell the difference.?
As part of the racketeering charge, prosecutors allege:
• Atlanta officials first awarded United Water a 20-year contract with an annual payment of $21.4 million in 1998. Months later, in July 1999, United Water paid $12,900 for a trip to Paris for Campbell and the mayor’s previous chief operating officer, Wilton Lawrence “Larry” Wallace. A female friend of the mayor’s met him in Paris, and the couple spent much of their time sightseeing, according to photos displayed for jurors.
• The same month, water executives and others contributed $6,900 to Campbell’s campaign even though he would not be eligible for a third term.
Defense attorneys have fought back, saying Campbell and Wallace went to Paris on business since United Water’s parent company is based there. They also defend any campaign contributions as legal donations to retire campaign debt.
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Witness doesn’t dispute $100,000 request
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of the first witnesses called for the defense today in Bill Campbell’s federal corruption trial didn’t dispute that a businessman seeking a city contract was asked to pay $100,000 for the mayor’s re-election campaign. The witness said he just couldn’t recall it happening.
Campbell’s attorneys were expected to call as many as nine witnesses today as lawyers try to chip away at the federal corruption case against the former mayor.
Wesley Barnes, a civil engineer whose firm did work for the city, testified today about a meeting involving Campbell, city contractor Rickey Rowe and businessman Howard Sole, who earlier testified earlier that his company dropped efforts to land a lucrative city contract after he was urged to pay $100,000 to the mayor’s re-election campaign.
Sole, who formerly worked for Virginia-based CRS Construction, said he and another businessman met with Campbell in August 1997 to pitch a project to help fix the city’s sewer problems and allow Atlanta to avoid costly Environmental Protection Agency fines.
Campbell said he liked the proposal and thought the city could go forward with the project, which could net CRS between $15 million to $20 million, Sole testified.
Sole testified he had trouble meeting with the mayor until city contractor Ricky Rowe set up a meeting and went along. Afterward, Campbell and Rowe talked privately while Sole waited in the hall, Sole testified. When Rowe rejoined him, Sole said Rowe told him, “I’m not saying the mayor said this, but $100,000 and the contract is yours, regardless of whether he is elected.”
After he told officials of his company what had happened, they decided not to do business with Atlanta, Sole testified.
Today, Barnes, who was also familiar with the discussions, said he did not remember Rowe asking for a $100,000 bribe when questioned by defense attorney Jerry Froelich.
On cross examination, Assistant U. S. Attorney Russell Vineyard asked Barnes if he was disputing that Rowe asked for the $100,000 after the meeting with the mayor.
“No, I’m not disputing that,? Barnes said. “I just don’t recall it.?
Campbell, who was mayor from 1994 until 2002, is accused of running the city as a criminal enterprise through racketeering, taking bribes and tax evasion. He has pleaded not guilty.
In other testimony, Campbell’s former special assistant, Eunice Lockhart-Moss, talked about being hired by Campbell in 1998, after working several jobs, including doing work with the Clinton White House.
Lockhart-Moss said her main job was to keep the mayor’s calendar and schedule his appearances and appointments.
She said when Campbell hired her he told her that he wanted to keep his campaign promises and there a few key things she had to do to keep him happy.
She testified that Campbell said he didn’t want to be reading speeches on the way to giving speeches; he wanted to be on time; he wanted to have dinner with his family; and he wanted her to run the office in a “professional manner.?
The defense opened its case Tuesday, calling former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, and three others to the stand.
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Campbell aide to testify about speeches and fees
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell’s special assistant, Eunice Lockhart-Moss, is expected to testify today as a defense witness in Campbell’s federal corruption trial.
Moss could be a central figure in the goings-on in City Hall during his administration. She scheduled Campbell’s out of town trips, his speaking engagements, and handled the fees from those speeches.
Campbell lawyers opened his defense Tuesday, calling former Atlanta Mayor and former U.N. ambassador Andrew Young. Young testified that he, like Campbell, took many out of town trips as mayor and made speeches for which he was paid.
Young testified his trips were almost always for business, and many of his speeches were at colleges, as well as at conventions. He said he needed the speech income to supplement his salary as mayor.
Witnesses have testified many of Campbell’s trips were gambling junkets with girlfriends, and that he sometimes delayed reporting the income from those speeches.
Campbell praised his defense team Tuesday outside the courthouse, saying that Young’s testimony — on running a campaign, on running city hall, on dealings with city contractors — “destroyed the government’s case.”
Campbell lawyers declined to say who else they plan to call to the stand today, on the sixth of testimony in the trial.
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