Subject:  Fieger denied repayment in '05 radio interview |
Author:
Chris
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Date Posted: 05/ 2/08 9:09pm
In reply to:
Diane
's message, "Fiegers' Trial Tomorrow ????" on 04/13/08 6:44pm
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Fieger denied repayment in '05 radio interview
Prosecutors say it shows he knew reimbursing employees for donations was illegal.
Paul Egan / The Detroit News
DETROIT -- Two days after the FBI raided his law office, Southfield attorney Geoffrey Fieger denied in a radio interview he reimbursed employees for political donations, Fieger's criminal trial was told Wednesday.
Since then, Fieger's lawyers have admitted Fieger reimbursed his employees for donations they made to the 2004 presidential campaign of Democrat John Edwards, but say Fieger believed he did so legally.
Prosecutors on Wednesday played excerpts from Fieger's interview on WJR Radio's "Frank Beckmann Show" on Dec. 2, 2005 -- soon after Fieger learned he was the target of a federal investigation but before he was indicted -- in which Fieger vehemently denied reimbursing employees for political donations.
"Nobody got reimbursed," Fieger said in the interview.
The government alleges Fieger's denial shows he knew his actions were illegal. Fieger lawyers have noted Fieger was not under oath during the radio interview and have suggested he was "in a state of shock" as a result of the FBI raid on his offices on Nov. 30, 2005.
Fieger, 57, and his law partner, Ven Johnson, 46, were indicted in 2007 on conspiracy and illegal campaign contribution charges. They are accused of making $127,000 in illegal donations to the Edwards campaign by reimbursing employees, employee relatives, and law firm vendors. Fieger is also charged with obstruction of justice.
The jury learned Wednesday of rumors that Fieger had extramarital affairs with women who worked at his law firm.
The issue was raised over the objections of prosecutors by Fieger defense lawyer Gerry Spence, who said he raised the issue to show the FBI was so intent on "getting" Fieger they were prepared to question witnesses about irrelevant subjects.
"They asked about alleged affairs Mr. Fieger had with women in the firm," Spence told U.S. District Judge Paul D. Borman. "The width and breadth of what the government was doing here is clear."
Spence raised the issue of alleged affairs while cross-examining Tania Rock, a paralegal and former personal assistant to Fieger who testified Tuesday she warned Fieger he could get in trouble for reimbursing employees.
Rock testified she told the FBI about at least one affair Fieger was rumored to be having with a woman who worked at the firm.
Rock, who traveled extensively with Fieger as his personal assistant, testified the FBI also asked her if she had an affair with Fieger and she told the FBI she did not.
Outside the presence of jurors, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Helland argued Spence should not be able to raise the issue of alleged extramarital affairs. He said prosecutors and defense lawyers agreed prior to the trial not to explore the issue.
"I'm not a party to that," Borman said.
Rock testified raising money for Edwards was a big issue for Fieger.
"He wanted to be the biggest fundraiser for Sen. Edwards," she testified.
"That was the goal."
The trial will resume Friday morning with Rock on the stand for the third day.
You can reach Paul Egan at (313) 222-2069 or pegan@detnews.com.
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