Defense witnesses begin testifying in Bonusgate trial

Mar 9, 2010 — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Tracie Mauriello

Mar. 9, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- HARRISBURG -- The first sitting lawmaker to testify in the Bonusgate trial took the stand Monday as the defense began to make its case that former state Rep. Mike Veon and three former aides committed no crimes.

State Rep. Jim Wansacz, D-Lackawanna, testified about dinners he attended in Mr. Veon's Capitol office after weekly pick-up basketball games with other lawmakers, staffers and others.

Prosecutors say Mr. Veon charged taxpayers $15,600 for those dinners between 2002 and 2006. On days of the dinners, Mr. Veon also collected taxpayer-funded per diems of $126 to $148. Per diems are meant to provide for meals and lodging while lawmakers are in Harrisburg.

Mr. Wansacz said the group always discussed legislation during the post-basketball events, which also included cigars, card games, meals picked up by state workers and sometimes liquor.

Mr. Veon was very busy during the day, but he was accessible Tuesday nights after basketball games, he said.

"We did have to eat, and that was a way we could get together," Mr. Wansacz said.

Former state Rep. Dan Surra, who also attended the basketball dinners, said some of the topics discussed included bills to increase the minimum wage and to prevent mandatory overtime for health care workers.

He said the card playing involved games of spades and hearts, and that he never saw anyone gambling for money.

Mr. Surra represented Elk County in the Legislature from 1991 to 2008 and now works for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Earlier Friday, House comptroller Alexis Brown testified that it is legal to charge taxpayers for those dinners if they are held at the Capitol and if legislation is discussed.

On trial with Mr. Veon are former legislative aides Brett Cott, Stephen Keefer and Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink. All are charged with theft, conflict of interest and conspiracy for allegedly using public resources to fund political campaigns. Their names were barely mentioned during Monday's testimony, which centered around Mr. Veon.

Attorneys have been combative throughout the trial, which is now in its sixth week, but courtroom tempers reached a new high Monday, when Veon attorney Dan Raynak raised his voice to Judge Richard A. Lewis after a ruling prevented him from calling a witness back to the stand for more questions.

Four hours later, after jurors had been dismissed for the day, Judge Lewis admonished Mr. Raynak for shouting, being defiant and "talking at breakneck speed." He said if the behavior continues, Mr. Raynak will be charged with contempt, fined and possibly jailed.

"If you're going to continue shouting, acting disrespectfully or defiantly," Judge Lewis said, "my strongest suggestion is that you bring with you to court each day your checkbook and your toothbrush."

Mr. Raynak did not respond in court and declined to comment later.

Co-counsel Joel Sansone of Pittsburgh said Mr. Raynak brings "an incredible passion to his work" and that this was a situation where "tempers got short" in the courtroom.

""We think the judge is doing what the judge has to do. And we are, of course, trying to defend as vigorously as we can," Mr. Sansone said. "We certainly hope that doesn't splash over into the area of inappropriate comment."

Testimony continues this morning in Dauphin County Common Pleas Court.

Tracie Mauriello: tmauriello@post-gazette.com or 1-717-787-2141.

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