Ellis Defense Hammers on Lies Told by Witness

Defense attorneys for former DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis spent Thursday pointing out lies in testimony given by DeKalb Purchasing Director Kelvin Walton, who spent two days telling the jury Ellis questioned why firms receiving large contracts from the county didn’t donate to his campaign.

Ellis faces 14 felony charges, ranging from bribery to theft, which he has consistently denied.

Ellis asked for lists of county contractors, and their phone numbers, in order to ask for campaign donations, according to testimony from Walton. Walton recorded conversations he had with his boss to collect evidence for prosecutors, reports The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The jury earlier heard a recording of Ellis telling Walton to place a note in the file of Power and Energy Services so no other county work went to the company. Officials at the contractor had refused to donate to Ellis’ campaign.

Walton testified he kept and regularly updated lists of vendors who had contracts with the county so Ellis could solicit the business owners for campaign contributions, FOX Atlanta reports. He said the CEO told him to let contracts expire if a donation wasn’t made to his 2012 re-election effort.

Ellis’ attorneys hammered on the lies Walton admits he told a special grand jury. They argued Walton cooperated with prosecutors to avoid facing corruption charges.

Walton and Defense Attorney Craig Gillen frequently exchanged words in court Thursday, often speaking over each other. At one point Judge Courtney Johnson reminded them to “act like gentlemen,” the TV station says.

The trial began Sept. 16 with the judge telling jurors they could be away from work for more than a month, WSB TV reports.

Ellis was indicted in the summer of 2013 by a DeKalb County grand jury on charges he illegally pressured contractors into giving him campaign contributions. He faces 14 felony charges that accuse him of shaking down county vendors for campaign donations and punishing those who did not give, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ellis has denied the charges.

»Former DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis in court. Credit: FOX Atlanta screenshot

Related:

Jurors Hear Ellis Demand Donations in Secret Recordings

Request for Mistrial Rejected in Burrell Ellis Bribery Trial

Juror Excused from DeKalb CEO’s Trial; Testimony Focuses on Campaign Cash