Big Jim Thompson, the former governor of Illinois, followed fellow Hollinger International director and audit committee member Marie-JosÈ Kravis to the witness stand in the criminal trial of Conrad Black this week. Thompson testified that he was just as clueless as Mrs. Kravis about approving the non-compete payments to Black that are the basis of the criminal charges against the Canadian businessman and author.
As you might expect, things did not go smoothly for Thompson on cross-examination in attempting to explain how he “skimmed over” $60 million in non-compete payments to Black and several of his associates that were liberally disclosed in a dozen corporate documents that Thompson approved and signed. Mark Steyn — who has been doing an extraordinary job of blogging the Black trial — sums up the scene this way:
Governor Thompson’s daily stipend for attending a couple of short audit and board meetings at Hollinger on Feb 25 2002 and remembering nothing about them five years later: $18,000.00
Chicago juror’s daily stipend for sitting through eight hours of testimony and being expected to pay attention rather than “skim” it: $45.00
Entertainment value of watching a four-term governor and star witness melt down on the stand: Priceless.
This case is fascinating for many reasons. First, as Mark Steyn indicates, the accusations are not nearly sufficient to merit the level of expense and prosecution.
Second, Black is a character, for the most part likeable.
Third, his lawyer Fast Eddie Greenspan is a character, for the most part likeable.
Fourth, his wife Barbara Amiel is a character, whose spunky up-from-orphanhood striving could have been likeable if she had not gone insanely overboard – and been overbearing with servants.
Fifth, prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald deserves to be spanked after his frivolous “You lied about the crime you did not commit” persecution of F. Lewis Libby.
Add to that the hollowing of Big Jim Thompson’s pomp and the puncturing of Marie-Josee Kravitz’ facade, and it is a spectacle for the ages. Priceless indeed.