I’ll start this post with a disclaimer: I’ve watched only a few hours of the Kevin Geddings trial. That means I might have missed some of the evidence that will answer the question I pose in the headline.
Based on this account, it now seems clear that we have two different stories (both based on sworn testimony under oath) about the knowledge N.C. House Speaker Jim Black had about Geddings’ ties to lottery vendor Scientific Games.
Black testified he did not know about the ties. From the information I’ve read, it appears prosecutors doubt the accuracy of that testimony. The night before Black announced Geddings’ appointment to the lottery commission, Black dined with Alan Middleton (a Scientific Games exec) and Meredith Norris (a Scientific Games employee and — simultaneously — Black’s unpaid political director).
Now the News & Observer reports that Geddings has contradicted Black directly.
Geddings said that when he was approached by House Speaker Jim Black about possibly serving on the commission, he advised Black of work he had done for lottery vendor Scientific Games and his friendship with Alan Middleton, a vice president for Scientific Games. Geddings said he told Black that could be “a media problem,” but that Black told him not to worry about it.
…
Geddings said he received a call from Black later that night [Sept. 21, 2005]. He said Black asked if he was interested in serving on the commission, but only for one year. He said that Black said he wanted to appoint [Charlotte attorney Robert] Cordle at that point to serve the remaining two years of the term. Geddings said he was interested, and that Black told him the offer was tentative.
“I’m going to be running it by the governor,” Geddings quoted Black as saying.
Geddings said he advised Black about his ties to Scientific Games and Middleton, but that Black told him not worry about it.
Geddings said Black said that if he had to stop what he was doing “because it was in The News & Observer, I’d never get any work done.”
One of the two men is wrong. That’s why I ask, “Where’s the proof?” Does someone have phone records to prove or disprove Geddings’ assertion? I’ll be interested to see where today’s testimony leads.
