Subject:  Gym owner says Fieger called him an 'idiot'........ |
Author:
Chris
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Date Posted: 05/14/08 6:46pm
In reply to:
Diane
's message, "Fiegers' Trial Tomorrow ????" on 04/13/08 6:44pm
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Gym owner says Fieger called him an 'idiot' for speaking to FBI
Paul Egan / The Detroit News
DETROIT -- Southfield attorney Geoffrey Fieger raised his voice to the owner of his gym and called the man an idiot when he learned the man had spoken to FBI agents who were investigating him, Fieger's criminal trial in federal court was told Wednesday.
Shant Gharibian, owner of Exclusive Fitness in West Bloomfield, testified Fieger told him "he must be some kind of idiot" to talk to the FBI. "He raised his voice and yelled at me," Gharibian said.
Gharibian testified he earlier agreed to give Fieger $2,000 checks to the 2004 presidential campaign of Democrat John Edwards from both himself and his sister and had received a check from the Fieger firm to reimburse him and his sister for the donations.
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Fieger's tone changed when Gharibian told Fieger he told the FBI agents who visited him that he donated to the Edwards campaign on his own and the check he received from Fieger was a Christmas present, Gharibian told jurors.
"He said, 'That's right,'" Gharibian testified.
"What I was thinking at the time was that Mr. Fieger was going along, agreeing to my false story in a way assuring me that I didn't do anything wrong ... to plant a seed in my head for any further discussions."
But under cross-examination, Gharibian testified Fieger never told him to lie to the FBI and Fieger told him he believed the reimbursements were legal.
Fieger, 57, and his law partner, Ven Johnson, 46, were indicted in 2007 on conspiracy and illegal campaign contribution charges. They are accused of making $127,000 in illegal donations to the Edwards campaign by reimbursing employees, employee relatives and law firm vendors. The key issue in the case is whether Fieger and Johnson knowingly broke the law.
Fieger is also charged with obstruction of justice, a 10-year felony.
Testimony wrapped up for the day on Wednesday with FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Rees, who headed the Fieger investigation, on the stand. The government is likely to close its case against Fieger and Johnson on Thursday.
You can reach Paul Egan at (313) 222-2069 or pegan@detnews.com.
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