Bradley Bristles During Cross-Examination

Former Compton Mayor Omar Bradley showed flashes of his outspoken style at his corruption trial Wednesday, accusing a prosecutor of badgering him and asking a “disingenuous” question during his cross-examination.

Bradley, who faces charges of misusing public funds, stuck to his defense that he did not double-bill the city during his travels or use his city-issued credit card for personal items.

During a heated exchange with Deputy Dist. Atty. Kerry White, Bradley grew frustrated with persistent questions about why a hotel bill of $177 appeared on his credit card. Bradley said he was unfamiliar with the process of checking out of a hotel with a credit card.

“I’m not like you,” Bradley told White. “I have people that do things for me.”

The clashes, during which Bradley remained mostly polite and responsive -- but at one point led the judge to order him to answer a question -- highlighted his last day on the witness stand.

Bradley, a burly former high school football coach, rose to prominence as an outspoken politician who once declared himself a “gangster mayor,” but made headway in beautifying and bringing housing to the impoverished city.

Though he has been out of office for two years, some still call him mayor. And during a recent lunch break at the trial, Bradley signed an autograph for a child at a nearby McDonald’s.

Bradley, 45, never shied from battles with politicians during his decade-long political career, winning praise for his blunt style, but scorn for remarks that he sometimes had to apologize for.

His testimony over two days was mixed. Bradley was mostly consistent in his answers under an aggressive cross-examination that demanded explanations for purchases down to a $15.59 hat. But Bradley at times did not remember details of his travels, or how he handled city funds.

He couldn’t remember, for instance, the details of how he spent more than $400 on cab rides during a Washington, D.C., trip to a conference.

Bradley has insisted throughout that all of his expenses, including golf fees and in-room movies at hotels, were justified because they had been related to city business. The golf expenses, he said, were OK because he discussed fundraising with one partner, and, in another instance, talked with a golf partner who wanted to open a Del Taco restaurant in Compton.

But that defense came under sharp attack by White, who asked Bradley why he couldn’t play at Compton’s municipal golf course, which is closer than the courses he played at in Whittier and Norco.

Bradley replied that he was too well-known in the city and that he would be constantly interrupted.

“I’m a person who stops, and who cares,” he said.

White persisted, asking Bradley if it was necessary for the city to pay his greens fees.

Bradley would not answer with a “yes” or “no,” prompting L.A. County Superior Court Judge Jack W. Morgan to intervene.

“Mr. Bradley, I’m going to order you to answer the question,” Morgan said.

Bradley said yes, and then explained that taxpayers should pay for his golf because “the city is obligated to pay any and all expenses when I’m conducting city business.”

Earlier, Bradley faced numerous questions seeking an accounting for $39 out of an $816.65 advance given to him for an Anaheim conference in 2000. Unable to recall what exactly he spent the money on, he accused White of badgering him.

Later, Bradley took issue with a question that involved the city’s practice of redacting items on credit card statements.

“The question is disingenuous, but I’ll answer it,” said Bradley, drawing a rebuke from the judge who told him to keep his opinions to himself.

White and Bradley kept a mostly civil discourse -- they referred to each other as Mr. White and Mr. Bradley -- but Bradley refused to take White’s word about the day an event fell on in May 2001.

“Mr. White. That would call for me to trust you, and I don’t,” Bradley said.

The former mayor is on trial with four other current and former Compton officials, who face similar charges. They are former City Manager John Johnson, former council members Amen Rahh and Delores Zurita, and current Councilwoman Yvonne Arceneaux.

After Bradley’s testimony, the defense attorney for Rahh, Albert DeBlanc, opened his case. Bradley can be recalled as a witness.

If found guilty, the defendants face possible four-year prison terms.