Did Welch, Johnson Pocket Cash Donation?
July 19, 2000-- Did top bid leaders benefit personally from a large cash donation from a sponsor in the final months before Salt Lake City won the Olympic Games?
Attorneys for Tom Welch and Dave Johnson say no, and again promise that they can prove it in court, if necessary.
Federal charges against Welch and Johnson appear likely, and according to their lawyers, cash payments used for personal benefit are expected to be part of a long indictment.
Johnson's attorney confirmed today that envelopes containing cash were given to Welch and Johnson by the company, Jet Set Sports, in the months before Salt Lake was awarded the Games.
The money totalled $130,000.
Federal prosecutors are expected to argue the pair pocketed the payments.
Welch's Washington D.C. attorney, William Taylor, tells Eyewitness News:
"They never used any funds for personal gain, and prosecutors have no evidence to support such a charge were they to include it in an indictment."
Johnson's attorney, Max Wheeler, says he's been told cash was often used to pay travel-related expenses for IOC members, especially while traveling abroad, when getting cash was difficult.
Max Wheeler/Johnson's Attorney: "It was not unusual for people traveling with the bid committee or with SLOC to take cash with them. Everyone knew that was happening. There was no secret about that. That's just the way things were done."
Meantime, both attorneys say they'd expect a number of people to testify if there is a trial, including Governor Leavitt.
One of his top aides, Vicki Varela, says they won't speculate on that. But she did say the Justice Department did interview the Governor about the case for a couple of hours in April and May.
She declined to say what they discussed.
