Former Fundraiser On Hot Seat In Kilpatrick Trial
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) Kwame Kilpatrick's former fundraiser Emma Bell is in the hot seat Thursday in his federal corruption trial, where she's explaining the $200,000 in kickbacks she said she was forced to hand over during the former mayor's reign.
Bell is soft spoken and tearful on the stand in federal court, WWJ reporter Vickie Thomas said, taking long pauses between words and wiping her eyes. She has said she thought of Kilpatrick as a son.
Kilpatrick's defense attorneys have portrayed Bell as a convicted tax cheat and gambling addict with a drinking problem.
She admitted turning over more than $200,000 to him, typically in amounts of less than $10,000, saying when she raised money for his campaign or non-profit foundation, she would take some and give him some.
In earlier testimony, it was revealed she had gambled $800,000 at Detroit's Greektown Casino.
She pleaded guilty a year ago and agreed to testify against Kilpatrick in exchange for a lesser sentence, which has not yet been finalized.
Bell's deals with Kilpatrick are part of the government's broad case against the ex-mayor. He's charged with fraud, tax crimes, bribery and conspiracy. Kilpatrick's father and two other people are also on trial.
"You know, if you can handle the campaigns, she probably can handle it, it's not going to be pretty," said Detroit City Hall watcher Adolph Mongo, who's known Bell 30 years.
In other trial news, an alternate juror was excused Thursday. Defense attorneys and prosecutors met with Judge Nancy Edmunds for about 15 minutes behind closed doors before it was announced that the man had been excused. No reason was given for the dismissal. Earlier this week, an alternate moved onto the jury after juror number 4 was kicked off the jury for sleeping and not paying attention. Four alternates remain.
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