DiMasi Trial Close To An End
BOSTON (AP) -- The federal corruption trial of former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi is winding down.
U.S. District Court Judge Mark Wolf told the jury Monday that he expects the defense to wrap up its case Wednesday and lawyers to give closing arguments on Thursday. The trial began on April 26.
On Monday, the defense called former state education commissioner David Driscoll as its first witness.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports
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Driscoll testified that DiMasi didn't press him to support a state contract that DiMasi and two associates are accused of steering to the Burlington software company Cognos in exchange for kickbacks.
Driscoll said he spoke with DiMasi only twice about the $4.5 million software contract.
He said DiMasi didn't advocate for Cognos, but told him he supported the technology project while warning him that it might not get approved because of budget woes.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
