Posted on Tue, Oct. 03, 2006

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N.C. governor likely to be witness for Geddings

Easley could be called as early as today in trial of ex-aide to Hodges

By GARY D. ROBERTSON

The Associated Press

RALEIGH — Gov. Mike Easley likely will be called as a defense witness, an attorney for Kevin Geddings said Monday as federal prosecutors appeared close to wrapping up the crux of their case against the former lottery commissioner accused of fraud.

Geddings served as former S.C. Gov. Jim Hodges’ chief of staff and worked to get a lottery passed in South Carolina.

Easley was included among potential witnesses in the case, but prosecutors did not call him to testify during the first six days in which jurors have heard evidence.

Thomas Manning, Geddings’ lead attorney, confirmed late Monday he will ask Easley to testify, possibly as early as today, when he begins presenting the defense case. “He’ll be among our first witnesses,” Manning said after court.

Easley spokeswoman Sherri Johnson said she had “no information at this time that he will be called,” but “if they feel he has relevant information, then he will be happy to appear.”

Easley was the key supporter of creating a North Carolina lottery and gets to choose five of the nine lottery commission members. House Speaker Jim Black, D-Mecklenburg, chose Geddings for the board after Easley balked at Black’s original choice, a member of the State Board of Elections.

Geddings said in a brief interview Monday he hoped Easley would testify truthfully about the days leading up to Black’s recommendation of Geddings. Geddings has alleged Black and a chief Easley political strategist knew about his business relationship with Scientific Games Corp., an accusation both have denied.

Geddings is accused of failing to disclose more than $250,000 in payments for work he performed for the lottery company or a firm it acquired when he joined the commission in September 2005. Geddings has said he’s innocent because disclosure wasn’t legally required.

Earlier, Geddings testified without the jury present as his lawyer argued successfully that an e-mail the two exchanged shouldn’t be allowed as evidence in the trial. The e-mail included a chronology of events leading up to the fall of 2005.

U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III ruled it was protected communication between a client and his attorney and ordered the document to be sealed.