Holden and Kinder to testify at corruption trial in KC

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A public corruption trial that begins Tuesday in Kansas City could feature some big names in Missouri politics.

Those who have received subpoenas to testify include former governor Bob Holden, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and four state senators, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Thursday, citing a court file. They're expected to testify about the selection process for an appointment to the Jackson County Sports Authority, which oversees the stadiums housing the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs.

The proceedings could involve discussion of the politics of gubernatorial appointments, with discussion of the clout of the home-district senator; how local squabbles come into play; and the trade-offs politicians use to achieve their goals.

Lobbyist Bill Waris, 61, a Kansas City Democrat, is on trial. Waris was Jackson County executive from 1983 to 1991 and now lobbies for Jackson County government and its current executive, Katheryn Shields.

Waris was accused by federal prosecutors of lying to a grand jury investigating whether Shields had offered a bribe to Republican activist Catherine Nugent to get her husband to withdraw his application for the sports authority. Shields has not been charged and has denied wrongdoing. Waris is charged with perjury and obstruction of justice.

The case revolves around what was said during a five-way telephone conference call in October 2003. Everyone agrees that Shields offered a $12,000 no-bid contract to Nugent to raise money for a local historical society.

The question is whether the award of the contract was contingent on Nugent's husband, Dan Nugent, dropping out of the competition for the sports authority position.

Catherine Nugent declined the contract, saying it "did not pass the smell test." Dan Nugent stayed in the running but was not nominated by county legislators for the sports authority post.

Appointments to the authority, which are made by the governor, are considered political plums, including free tickets to games.

Rather than a bribe, Waris considered the fund-raising contract "more akin to a favor" to a county legislator who had promised Dan Nugent the nomination but failed to deliver, according to a court document. Shields wanted to help the legislator "out of a jam," Waris told the grand jury.

At the time of the appointment in question, Kinder was Senate president pro tem and chairman of the committee that reviews gubernatorial nominees. He said he was drawn into the case because Dan Nugent claimed Kinder had promised to block Holden's nomination of former Kansas City mayor Dick Berkley to the sports authority.

"I never made a statement like that," Kinder said. "To the contrary I always fully intended to and did vote to confirm Dick Berkley."

Because of Dan Nugent's claims, Kinder was originally to be called as a prosecution witness. After being interviewed by prosecutors last week, however, Kinder said they decided to not use him. Kinder said he is now being asked to testify for the defense and is scheduled to take the stand July 8.

Waris contends that Nugent never had a shot at the appointment because Holden was committed to picking Berkley. Holden told the Post-Dispatch in an interview that was correct.

"I would always tell people, 'If you've got a recommendation, give it to me ... Yes, I'll consider anybody for any position.' But the fact is, I had my mind on Dick Berkley for quite some time. I don't even know who the other guy is," Holden said.

Staff writer Marc Powers contributed to this report.