5:04 p.m. – After U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson concluded testifying, the trial of DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis adjourned for the day.
Johnson told the jury he’d have a hard time believing that Ellis would threaten to fire county employees if they didn’t make political contributions.
“I’d be surprised if there was not a reasonable explanation for whatever utterance you’re attributing to him,” Johnson said.
4:59 p.m. — The judge presiding over the trial of DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis ruled that U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson can't testify about the unpleasantness of campaign fundraising.
Johnson was allowed to speak about Ellis’ character, but he couldn’t relate his political experience
“I don’t believe it’s appropriate to allow this witness to testify about his own habits and practices and relate them to the habits and practices of this defendant,” said Judge Courtney Johnson before the congressman testified.
Sitting at the witness stand, Rep. Johnson said Ellis’ had a good reputation for honesty.
“Burrell is an honest individual, a man of good character,” he said.
4:14 p.m. — Judge Courtney Johnson denied a request for a mistrial by an attorney for DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis.
The attorney, Dwight Thomas, had objected to the prosecution questioning a character witness about whether her opinion of Ellis would change if she knew he expected county employees to give him campaign contributions.
Johnson allowed the questioning to continue.
The witness, Jan Selman, was a political consultant who said Ellis had an “excellent” reputation for truthfulness and honesty.
Ellis’ defense has asked for a mistrial at least four times throughout the trial.
3:32 p.m. — The first witness called by defense attorneys for DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis is former DeKalb Commissioner Judy Yates.
Yates testified that DeKalb Purchasing Director Kelvin Walton provided her a list of county vendors that she could use for campaign contributions.
The defense was using Yates' testimony to show that other elected officials besides Ellis also used vendor lists for political purposes.
Ellis has pleaded not guilty to charges that he strong-armed county contractors for campaign donations.
2:43 p.m. — Judge Courtney Johnson rejected a request by DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis' attorneys for a directed verdict.
Johnson said there was sufficient evidence presented by prosecutors for jurors to decide the case.
2:05 p.m. – An attorney for DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis is asking a judge to make a directed verdict in favor of Ellis.
Dwight Thomas, one of Ellis’ lawyers, told Judge Courtney Johnson that prosecutors didn’t prove their case and Ellis should be found not guilty.
Thomas said prosecutors didn’t prove that Ellis was in DeKalb County at the time he made phone calls, and that Ellis never solicited a bribe.
1:53 p.m. — The prosecution rests its case.
The defense of DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis will begin presenting its witnesses after arguing motions outside the presence of the jury.
12:53 p.m. — DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis may testify in his own defense in his corruption trial.
Ellis’ attorneys told Judge Courtney Johnson that they plan to have him testify.
It’s rare for defendants to take the stand in their own defense.
Testifying would give Ellis an opportunity to defend himself against charges that he shook down county contractors for campaign contributions.
12:11 p.m. — While he was under oath, DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis denied pulling county contracts from companies.
The video of Ellis’ testimony to a special grand jury on Jan. 7, 2013, was shown Tuesday to a jury deciding criminal counts including perjury.
“I don’t believe I’ve ever personally canceled a contract,” Ellis said.
Ellis responded “no” when asked if he had ever canceled contracts because they refused to donate to his campaign, failed to return his calls or angered him.
“I don’t get involved in who gets work and who doesn’t get work,” Ellis said. “I don’t make the call to give people work. I don’t make the call to not give people work. I just rely on my department heads to make those decisions.”
Ellis is fighting criminal charges that he used his power as the county’s chief executive to extort campaign contributions from county contractors’
11:28 a.m. — Prosecutors will show jurors a video of DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis' sworn testimony to a special grand jury in an attempt to prove three perjury charges.
The indictment against Ellis accuses him of lying when he said he had never ordered work not be given to a vendor for not returning phone calls, when he ordered a vendor not to receive work under a split contract, and when he said he doesn’t get involved in what companies get work.
10:33 a.m. — Defense attorneys for DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis are asking the judge in his trial to allow testimony from U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson and other witnesses, according to a motion filed Tuesday morning.
Johnson could testify about his knowledge of Ellis’ character as well as his own experience with soliciting campaign contributions, according to the motion.
Ellis’ defense team also is seeking testimony from former IRS Special Agent Bill Bruton, who would say that Ellis didn’t personally receive any of the money he raised for his political campaign, according to the motion.
In addition, the defense wants former Georgia State Ethics Commission Director Rick Thompson to testify.
Prosecutors have argued that their testimony wouldn’t be relevant.
Judge Courtney Johnson plans to hear arguments on these motions later Tuesday.
9:03 a.m. — Prosecutors prepared to rest their case Tuesday against DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis, giving his defense a chance to call their witnesses.
Remaining witnesses for the prosecution include an investigator and a member of a special grand jury.
The defense plans to have U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson and others testify. It’s not known what they will testify about.
Ellis’ trial is in its third week as he battles criminal allegations that he shook down DeKalb County contractors for campaign contributions.
Please return to AJC.com for updates.
About the Author
