Angry Mecham Scolded After Trial Outburst

An agitated Gov. Evan Mecham accused prosecutors Monday of tapping his car phone, and of insulting him during cross-examination at his Senate impeachment trial.

The brief outburst earned Mecham a scolding from State Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank Gordon Jr., who is presiding over the historic proceeding.

The first-term Republican was calm and polite during most of his testimony as he answered charges that he illegally loaned $80,000 in protocol funds to his Pontiac dealership. But the 63-year-old governor lost his temper when chief prosecutor William French mentioned embezzlement.

The $80,000, which was repaid in full three months later, came from a protocol fund made up of proceeds from inaugural festivities. Prosecutors maintain that it was public money intended to pay for protocol expenses such as gifts for visiting dignitaries. The defense argues that the funds were private, to be used at the governor’s discretion for anything but campaign or personal living expenses.

Better Interest Rate

Mecham said he offered the dealership the loan merely to earn better interest for the fund--9% compared to about 4.5% in a passbook account.

French suggested that Mecham’s action was comparable to a banker “borrowing” money from his bank’s vault to pay medical bills.

“Now, governor, paying the money back plus interest doesn’t make the bank employee any less guilty of embezzlement, does it?” French asked.

Lead defense attorney Jerris Leonard lodged an objection, which Gordon sustained.

But Mecham angrily interjected:

“I ask to make a statement if I may,” he began, ignoring protests by both Gordon and French.

“I have to make a statement!” Mecham sputtered. “I have to make a statement!”

Gordon: “Governor, there is no question before you . . . “

Mecham: “I resent so highly the word ‘embezzlement’ in my presence, sir, and . . . I am insulted by it and I have to tell the people of this state and this body I’m insulted by it.”

‘Rules for You’

Gordon: “I sustained the objection. . . . It is not going to be answered. And I hope, sir, that you believe that the rules are for you as well as for everyone else in these proceedings.”

Mecham: “I have not seen any individual witness insulted as I have been, sir.”

Mecham completed his testimony without further displays of temper.

Earlier, Mecham declared that “somebody had to be monitoring my car phone” for prosecutors to accuse him of witness-tampering.

Mecham admitted calling the home of Jim Colter, his former chief of staff, last week immediately after Colter had testified.

But he said he knew Colter wouldn’t be home yet and merely wanted to tell his wife that Colter, who had been ill, “looked great.”

“I was shocked the next day when Mr. French asked Mr. Colter if I’d called his home, because someone had to be monitoring my telephone conversation to even know that,” Mecham testified.

‘A Lucky Guess’

He said he was making “a lucky guess” because he “couldn’t figure out any other reason that (French) would ask Mr. Colter if I called his house unless somebody was listening.”

French swiftly refuted the allegation, telling the governor and the 30-member state Senate sitting as his judge and jury that prosecutors knew of the Colter phone call because Colter had told them.

Mecham, who once said that he suspected political foes of using laser beams to spy on him, offered no apologies but said he would “accept” French’s explanation.

After hours of testimony about his business finances and loans, Mecham agreed that it was “politically stupid” to loan the money to Mecham Pontiac Corp. But he insisted there was “nothing illegal” about it and that he “couldn’t care less” if the public found out.

Mecham repeatedly said under French’s questioning that he did not know or did not recall details about his business debts, assets and dealings.

At one point, he told the prosecutor: “I deal in practicalities, not always just technically legal, Mr. French.”

After the contentious morning session and an afternoon session bogged down by legal wranglings, Gordon for the first time suggested that the Senate adjourn a half-hour early.

“It’s been a long day,” he said.