TV news anchor testifies in Atlanta corruption trial

<p>A Chicago television news personality testified Wednesday that she had a romantic relationship with former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, who is on trial on federal public corruption charges.</p><p>Marion Brooks, who was an anchor at WSB-TV in Atlanta when the married Campbell was mayor in the 1990s, testified that Campbell always paid with cash when they were together.</p><p>Prosecutors allege that Brooks, who at 39 is 13 years younger than Campbell, went on frequent trips with the mayor, including a getaway to Paris. They want to persuade the jury that he paid for the rendezvous with bribe money from city contractors.</p><p>Brooks moved to Chicago in late 1997 and now anchors afternoon newscasts on NBC-owned WMAQ. She married Florida lawyer Ruye Hawkins last year and is now pregnant.</p><p>Asked if she developed a relationship with Campbell when she worked for the ABC affiliate in Atlanta, she replied:</p><p>"Yes, I did."</p><p>The prosecutor asked if she dated him.</p><p>"Absolutely," Brooks said. "I would have him come to my apartment. We would meet out of town."</p><p>Asked how he paid for hotel rooms and other expenses, she said: "Cash."</p><p>Did she know Campbell ever to use a credit card?</p><p>"He always had cash," she said.</p><p>Campbell's wife of 28 years, Sharon, was not in the courtroom during Brooks' testimony. The defense had only a couple of very brief questions on cross-examination.</p><p>During the trial's opening statements last month, defense attorney Fred Orr told jurors: "What may have happened between Bill Campbell and another woman is between Mr. Campbell and Mrs. Campbell."</p><p>Prosecutors allege that the mayor took money from contractors in order to afford gambling trips to Mississippi River casinos and getaways with women, including Brooks. They claim that United Water, which won a 20-year contract to take the city's water system private, paid for the Paris trip for Campbell and Brooks.</p><p>Prosecutors say Campbell signed documents as he was leaving office, giving United Water $80 million more than its original contract.</p><p>Campbell is accused of accepting more than $160,000 in illegal campaign contributions, cash, junkets and home improvements in exchange for city contracts.</p><p>The 52-year-old charismatic ex-politician is charged with seven counts of racketeering, fraud and bribery.</p><p>The trial follows a seven-year federal probe into corruption at City Hall that lasted almost as long as Campbell's tenure from 1994 to 2002. The investigation led to the convictions of 10 former city officials and contractors, all tied to the Campbell administration.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x1cdb988)</p>