WSB's Veronica Waters reports the jury heard from officials with United Water and its parent company. United Water had a contract with Atlanta and former company exec David Sherman testified that at the request of Campbell's chief operating officer in 1999, he helped set up a four-day trip [pdf files] to Paris for Campbell and his COO.

The July dates were the same ones Campbell's former lover testified Wednesday she had already booked. Marion Brooks, who then lived in Chicago, testified that she had purchased the airfares for herself and Campbell after she planned the trip and invited him to join her in France. Brooks testified that during the trip, the two often spent time sightseeing Paris, and says Campbell left for a few hours one day when "he went to a water company."

Documents showed the company had planned several days' worth of wastewater treatment plant tours, fine dining and shows for Campbell and COO Larry Wallace. But, testified an official, Campbell only lunched at the company's executive offices once, while Wallace took the facilities tour. Jack Moss, with United Water's parent company Suez, told jurors that he waited an hour and a half in the hotel lobby for Wallace to come downstairs from his room for the tour; the Mayor, he said, did not come down.

But Moss testified that during Campbell's meeting with company executives, "[Suez CEO] Mr. [Gerard] Mestrallet spent time talking about the capability of the company, and Mayor Bill Campbell spent time talking about the importance of the water contract." Moss said Campbell was cordial to everyone.

The Government alleges Campbell used United Water to pay for a personal vacation which wasn't even notated on his City calendar. The defense maintains it was a business trip.

"The Mayor was in Paris on business," said defense attorney Billy Martin. "You heard today that he had meetings with the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company on city business."

Campbell acknowledged he had spent personal time with a girlfriend by publicly apologizing to his wife, Sharon, who was in court Thursday for the first time this week.

"While this is a private matter, I want to publicly apologize to my wife," Campbell said. "She has supported me with grace and dignity for 28 years, and she deserves better. I'm unworthy, but I'm deeply appreciative of her support."

The company ended up paying $13,000 for the accommodations, transportation, and a canceled dinner reservation during the trip.

"We wanted it to be a business trip, an opportunity to look at our facilities, and that did not occur," Sherman told the jury.

Under cross-examination, Sherman testified that it was "fair to say" there was an outstanding invitation from United Water's CEO for Mayor Campbell to come visit their company in France.

Charles Johnson, who was a subcontractor with United Water and company secretary, testified that he received seven documents which were additions to the company's contract with Atlanta before Campbell left office in December 2001. The extensions were for a total of $68 million over the life of the contract. The documents arrived by mail, he testified, during the first week of January.

The company needed the additional money, said Johnson, because once United Water started its work with Atlanta, it realized the work was more monumental than first estimated.

Federal prosecutors are not accusing Campbell of quid pro quo on the signings. Instead, they allege Campbell's signing of the documents is evidence of "honest services fraud," because he never disclosed that United Water had paid his expenses during his 1999 trip to Paris. The accusation is listed under the first count of his indictment on racketeering.

The defense, however, disputes that Campbell ever signed those documents.

In court Thursday as Assistant U. S. Attorney Russell Vineyard asked Johnson on each page displayed for the jury, "Is that Bill Campbell's signature?," Sharon Campbell repeatedly shook her head. She leaned over to a friend sitting next to her and mouthed, "That's not his signature." Mrs. Campbell looked bemused and vaguely exasperated--and continued to shake her head as each of the signatures was exhibited on the large screen.

Prosecutors plan to bring a handwriting expert to testify Monday that the signatures are Campbell's.

Also expected on the stand Monday: Campbell's former chief of staff and interim chief operating officer, DeWayne Martin. Martin, an attorney, landed an immunity deal in 2002 when he told federal prosecutors that he took thousands of dollars in bribes at City Hall--although it's not clear if he'll say he accepted any on behalf of the Mayor.

Friday, 10 February 2006