Subject:  Fieger assistant testfies... could mean trouble |
Author:
Chris
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 04/29/08 7:12pm
In reply to:
Diane
's message, "Fiegers' Trial Tomorrow ????" on 04/13/08 6:44pm
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Fieger assistant: "We could get in trouble" for campaign check
Paul Egan / The Detroit News
DETROIT -- The former personal assistant to Southfield attorney Geoffrey Fieger testified Tuesday she refused to write a $2,000 check to the presidential campaign of Democrat John Edwards because she didn't have the money and believed it would be illegal for Fieger to reimburse her for the donation.
"Of course I didn't have that amount of money in my checking account," testified Tania Rock, a paralegal who now works for a different law firm. Rock testified
Fieger told her: "Don't worry. You'll get reimbursed for it."
"I said I still couldn't do it; that we could get in trouble for it."
Rock testified in the fourth day of testimony in the federal court trial of Fieger, 57, and his law partner, Ven Johnson, 46. They were indicted last year on conspiracy and illegal campaign contribution felony charges, accused of making $127,000 in illegal donations to the 2004 Edwards campaign by reimbursing employees, employee relatives and law firm vendors. Fieger is also charged with obstruction of justice. Both have pleaded not guilty.
The central issue in the case, prosecutors and defense lawyers agree, is whether Fieger and Johnson willfully used Fieger law firm checks to reimburse political
donations when they knew it was illegal to do so.
Fieger's lawyers have repeatedly argued reimbursements of donations are not illegal, but U.S. District Judge Paul D. Borman has ruled he will instruct the jury reimbursements of campaign donations are illegal, provided they are made
knowingly and willfully.
Borman agreed to strike Rock's statement, "I had known that it was illegal to get reimbursed for contributions," because only the judge can instruct the jury regarding the law. But he allowed her other statement that "we could get in trouble for it."
Over the objections of defense lawyers, Borman also allowed Rock to testify that she overheard another former Fieger employee, Eric Humphrey, tell Fieger, "That
was wrong," in relation to the contributions to the Edwards campaign.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Helland argued the statements are relevant because they show Fieger was put on notice that reimbursing contributions might be illegal and it was something he should look into.
But Fieger attorney Gerry Spence argued the statements came from people who were not lawyers and had no basis to make such statements. Allowing the testimony hurts Fieger's chances for a fair trial, Spence argued. He also objected to the Humphrey statement as hearsay.
The trial continues Wednesday.
You can reach Paul Egan at (313) 222-2069 pegan@detnews.com.
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
