Stroger won’t testify in pal’s federal corruption trial after all
KIM JANSSEN Federal Courts Reporter September 12, 2013 3:49PM
Todd Stroger. File Photo
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Updated: September 13, 2013 2:22AM
Former Cook County Board President Todd Stroger won’t be testifying in defense of his best friend after all.
Lawyers for Eugene Mullins had long touted Stroger as their star witness who would help clear Mullins of federal charges that he made $35,000 from a county contract kickback scam.
“We don’t have a choice but to call Todd Stroger,” Mullins’ attorney Brunell Donald-Kyei told the Sun-Times in March, claiming that Stroger was the true target of a federal investigation.
But after prosecutors rested their case against Mullins Thursday, Donald-Kyei said she’s changed her mind. Calling Stroger would “overload” Mullins’ defense, she said. Mullins, a one-time Chicago cop, served as Stroger’s chief spokesman while Stroger was county board president.
She again vowed that Mullins himself would testify. And speaking after Thursday’s testimony ended, Mullins said there was “no doubt” he’d do so.
Mullins, Stroger’s former spokesman, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of steering phony contracts to his pals.
Email: kjanssen@suntimes.com
Twitter: @kimjnews
