Mecham’s Attorney Testifies on Threat : Says Governor Was Merely Told of ‘Altercation’ Involving Staff

Gov. Evan Mecham’s lawyer, in an abrupt role change, became a witness in his client’s impeachment trial Monday and echoed the governor’s version of crucial events.

Fred Craft, who was subpoenaed by the state Senate on a motion by Democratic Minority Leader Alan Stephens, insisted that Mecham was not informed that a death threat had been made against a former Mecham aide.

Craft, now one of Mecham’s lawyers in the impeachment case, was a Washington lobbyist for Mecham and an adviser to the first-term Republican.

Reported as ‘Altercation’

Craft testified that he stood next to Mecham when a state police officer first reported the alleged threat. Craft said it was reported as “an altercation between two employees.”

“I never heard ‘felony.’ I never heard ‘death threat’ and I certainly never heard ‘tampering with a grand jury witness,’ ” Craft said in an almost exact duplicate of Mecham’s own testimony last week.

The Senate, which began its fourth week of inquiry into the governor’s actions Monday, has been hearing testimony on an allegation that Mecham tried to obstruct justice by thwarting an attorney general’s probe of the alleged death threat against former aide Donna Carlson.

At the time of the alleged threat last November, Carlson was preparing to testify before a grand jury investigating Mecham’s campaign finances.

Like Mecham, Craft accused Lt. Beau Johnson of the Department of Public Safety of testifying falsely when he said he alerted Mecham to a possible felony--tampering with a grand jury witness.

Referred Matter to Superior

Johnson has said he went to Mecham and told him that a Mecham aide, Lee Watkins, had threatened Carlson and that a possible felony was involved. Mecham has denied this version, saying he understood two employees had a disagreement and that he referred the matter to Watkins’ superior, Max Hawkins.

Senators supported Stephens’ motion to have Craft testify because he was mentioned by other witnesses as participating in key conversations. Craft said he did not give the governor legal advice during that period and acknowledged that he could not claim an attorney-client privilege of confidentiality.

The obstruction of justice charge is one of three broad allegations against Mecham at his impeachment trial. He also is charged with concealing a $350,000 campaign loan and with misusing $80,000 from a state fund by loaning it to his auto dealership.

Mecham also faces an April 21 criminal trial concerning the $350,000 loan and a recall election May 17.