Santa Clara, CA – In a significant turn of events in the Santa Clara vice mayor’s perjury trial, Anthony Becker’s own words became the focal point on the sixth day of hearings as prosecutors aimed to corner him over allegations of leaking a confidential report. The courtroom proceedings, led by Deputy District Attorney Jason Malinsky, echoed with Becker’s previous statements to the criminal grand jury from last year.
The case revolves around Becker’s alleged leak of the “Unsportsmanlike Conduct” civil grand jury report, which included sensitive information. To bring Becker’s prior testimony to light, both Malinsky and his colleague, Deputy District Attorney Joel Gorman, read aloud the transcript of Becker’s grand jury responses, giving the jury their first direct impression of Becker’s defense.
In his testimony, Becker described his careful separation of personal, city, and campaign communications, utilizing distinct devices to prevent conflicts. This approach was under scrutiny as Malinsky detailed the various technologies at Becker’s disposal which could have been used to leak the report without leaving traces on city-monitored devices.
The probing continued with questions about Becker’s reaction upon receiving the controversial report from then-City Attorney Steve Ngo. Becker indicated a mix of surprise and foreboding, sensing trouble as media inquiries rolled in even before he had read the report. He told the court about ads for a website that prematurely posted the leaked document, which left him baffled given the report’s supposedly guarded nature.
Suspicions within city ranks were also touched upon by Becker during his grand jury testimony. He suggested Mayor Lisa Gillmor and Council Member Kathy Watanabe as potential leakers, although he admitted lacking proof to support his claim.
Personal strains surfaced when Malinsky shifted his questions toward Becker’s personal life and campaign strategies. Financial struggles marked Becker’s mayoral campaign efforts; he revealed that his partner had to shoulder household expenses during his unpaid leave from work to run for office. Additionally, his personal relationship was strained when his partner found the website advertising the leaked report, dragging personal life tensions into the courtroom discourse.
The defense’s engagement with financial aspects extended to Russell Miller, treasurer for the 49ers’ independent campaign expenditure committees, who highlighted the routine nature of the financial transactions related to Becker’s campaign. Yet, questions from Malinsky about Becker’s interactions with 49ers lobbyists and the cessation of his attendance at team meetings despite these being about “city business” painted a complex picture of Becker’s attempts to maintain an ethical stance amid contentious political narratives.
As proceedings wrapped up for the day, the court tackled various motions, including Google’s refusal to produce specific emails sought by the defense and juggling concerns about a juror’s attentiveness. The trial is set to continue early next week, with the community closely watching the outcomes that might influence local political dynamics.
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