Throughout much of the afternoon, Bill Blount was cagey and curt with his answers. If he could answer with a "yes" or "no," he did, and not a word more. It seemed for a while that his testimony was not forthcoming and that he was still irritated that he'd been caught.
As prosecutors pored over credit card receipts and travel records, they asked Blount repeatedly why he had bought Langford thousands of dollars worth of merchandise at upscale New York boutiques.
"Because Larry wanted it," Blount answered.
On the stand, Blount did not seem contrite at all, and his testimony did little more than support what investigators and prosecutors could already support with documents and other testimony.
Finally, after a short break, prosecutors asked Blount directly if he had pleaded guilty to bribery. He said that he had.
"And who did you bribe?" Assistant United States Attorney George Martin asked.
"Larry Langford," Blount said.
For much of the afternoon, prosecutors went through one receipt after another with Blount. When they weren't doing that, they walked through the myriad bond deals and swap business Langford directed to Blount's firm, Blount-Parris & Co. Prosecutors have accused Langford of accepting more than $235,000 worth of jewelry, clothes and cash from Blount, and in exchange Langford steered more than $7 million of bond business to Blount's firm.
In court, Blount said that he had a direct interest in Langford's political career. Had Langford's debts crushed him or caused a scandal, it would have hurt Blount-Parrish's business. What's more, by lavishing Langford with gifts, he could win the favor he needed for Jefferson County bond business, he said.
Under cross examination, Blount said he never had an explicit agreement with Langford. Langford never directly asked Blount for a cut of his profits, nor did Blount offer him one.
Blount also said that Langford never asked him directly to pay for any of the many expensive clothing items.
"He picked it out, put it on the table and didn't reach for his wallet," Blount said.
According to Blount, Langford frequently gave him gifts, too, although Blount said he didn't always want them. Among the gifts from Langford to Blount were a couple of leather coats, a shotgun and a set of women's golf clubs.
Testimony will resume Friday morning.
As prosecutors pored over credit card receipts and travel records, they asked Blount repeatedly why he had bought Langford thousands of dollars worth of merchandise at upscale New York boutiques.
"Because Larry wanted it," Blount answered.
On the stand, Blount did not seem contrite at all, and his testimony did little more than support what investigators and prosecutors could already support with documents and other testimony.
Finally, after a short break, prosecutors asked Blount directly if he had pleaded guilty to bribery. He said that he had.
"And who did you bribe?" Assistant United States Attorney George Martin asked.
"Larry Langford," Blount said.
For much of the afternoon, prosecutors went through one receipt after another with Blount. When they weren't doing that, they walked through the myriad bond deals and swap business Langford directed to Blount's firm, Blount-Parris & Co. Prosecutors have accused Langford of accepting more than $235,000 worth of jewelry, clothes and cash from Blount, and in exchange Langford steered more than $7 million of bond business to Blount's firm.
In court, Blount said that he had a direct interest in Langford's political career. Had Langford's debts crushed him or caused a scandal, it would have hurt Blount-Parrish's business. What's more, by lavishing Langford with gifts, he could win the favor he needed for Jefferson County bond business, he said.
Under cross examination, Blount said he never had an explicit agreement with Langford. Langford never directly asked Blount for a cut of his profits, nor did Blount offer him one.
Blount also said that Langford never asked him directly to pay for any of the many expensive clothing items.
"He picked it out, put it on the table and didn't reach for his wallet," Blount said.
According to Blount, Langford frequently gave him gifts, too, although Blount said he didn't always want them. Among the gifts from Langford to Blount were a couple of leather coats, a shotgun and a set of women's golf clubs.
Testimony will resume Friday morning.
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