Boston city coucilor testifies in bribe case

In 2007, Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner was secretly videotaped in an exchange that made it appear as though he was accepting bribes.

But in court on Wednesday, Turner said that although he was handed something, he does not know what it was. He said he did know, however, that it wasn’t money.

Turner is on trial for charges of attempted extortion and three counts of lying to FBI agents.

In the video, Turner is seen shaking hands with Ronald Wilburn, a local businessman, who as an FBI witness was secretly videotaping their exchange with a briefcase rigged with a surveillance camera.

Wilburn testified that in the tape, he gave Turner $1,000 as he shook his hand.

Against the advice of his lawyers, Turner, spoke in his own defense. He said that he does not remember meeting with Wilburn.

However, witnesses and prosecutors have said that the two met three times in Wilburn’s district office as well as in City Hall during the summer of 2007.

When the tape is played in slow motion, it appeared as though something was exchanged in the hands of the two men as they shook hands, but when asked by Assistant U.S. Attorney John McNeil what was put in his hand, Turner said that he didn’t know.

Turner was asked specifically by one of his defense lawyers during questioning whether he accepted five $100 bills and 10 $50 bills, as has been alleged by the prosecution, in exchange for helping Wilburn get a liquor license.

“I’ve never had that kind of money given to me,” Turner responded.

He also argued that he would remember if such an incident occurred.

Massachusetts’ state election laws prevent individuals from giving more than $50 in cash to political candidates.

Turner’s arrest happened in 2008, shortly after state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson was charged with accepting bribes of more than $23,500 from Wilburn and undercover FBI agents.