Lots of drama in the courtroom this morning. Kwame's family, including his mother Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, are all there. Apparently, Kwame's 3 boys are all falling asleep and Carlita keeps nudging them awake. They are all dressed up and making a show of support for Kwame and Bernard. 

Multiple jurors seems to be sick. We took a break when we did because a juror needed to bolt for the restroom again. 

10:14AM Court in session but we are missing a court reporter. 

Thomas starts again. Back on 1368. The nature of the investigation and how witnesses appear in front of us. 1368 contract was shown to Bernard Parker III. He was disappointed contract didn't progress as it should and laid it at the feet of Kilpatrick. 

Showed him the April 19th 2006 City Council process and the special administrative order of December 23rd 2005. Do you remember his response? It was "Wow." It was the first time that he saw it. You can imagine he saw the contract and the emails. You have to ask yourself if there was a reason for that. Parker wasn't shown the document because it didn't fit the government's theory that he sat on the contract. 

That Kwame Kilpatrick wasn't being a good mayor. 

We heard that "wow", that a-ha moment that proves my point. We know that agents go out and talk to people and show them documents. 

Government is relying on 3 witnesses relying money issues. I want to talk about them because they are the pillars of the government's case but it is a shaky foundation: Emma Bell, Derrick miller and Karl Kado. 

these are witnesses that got in trouble on their won. they had a heavy motivation to implicate Kwame. there is very little corroboration for what they say. 

Emma Bell, Derrick miller and Karl Kado are bought and paid for witnesses. The currency is freedom. they came in and said what they said and I have something to say about it. 

these witnesses are concerned about what's in it for me. What can I bargain for so I can get myself out of trouble? this is conduct that has borne out in their testimony. 

Government has a lot of power. Talked about how there were as many as 7 lawyers and untold number of agents. this started in 2004 and has gone on for almost 10 years. 

They have ability to see witnesses, bargain and exchange with their currency:" testimony against Kwame Kilpatrick. 

I told you in opening statement that Emma Bell was going to cry. and she did shed crocodile tears. I think it was feigned for sympathy and that she is a tough cookie. 

Emma Bell's problem was that she hadn't paid taxes in 20 years. she was able to hide money she was making. 10% of the money she was making. she was getting paid very well. she was a person that was crafty. You have to look at that to determine her credibility. 

Could talk her banker into cashing checks for her to avoid IRS. 

"Bought and paid for." she was facing significant jail time and was able to reduce it in exchange for what she has done here. 

that motivation is what you can look at. You can determine her credibility in other ways. there is no corroboration for what she says about meeting in a private place with Kwame and exchanging money with him. Just her word. there is no corroboration for it. 

Emma Bell says she gave Kwame a lot of money. 

Donald Trump's got a lot of money. Kwame was paying in cash on credit cards. Banker said he didn't find that unusual. Whether it is or not, this is an instant where the government is trying to get you to sympathize. 

It's an inference he got the money from Emma Bell. IRS agent Sauer said there was no correlation between Emma Bell money and Kwame cash deposits. 

We know Emma Bell was a gambler and had a problem with gambling. the gambling records show that she puts in play in 2005 $170,000, $569,000 in 2006, $788,950 in 2007, $803,000 in 2008.

In 2008, she didn't report income and still lost $82,000. did she give Kwame the money or keep her money under a mattress for a rainy day and take it to the casino. 

There's more.

A text message between Kwame and Christine Beatty on July 29th 2003, Emma Bell has been fund-raising for awhile and giving him 50% with Kwame. any check over $5,000, she splits with her.