DeWeese Uses Fifth Amendment To Avoid Incriminating Himself On The Stand

(AP) - The man who was the top-ranking Democrat in the state House of Representatives until a little more than a year ago will not be testifying in the Harrisburg public-corruption trial.

Attorney Bill Costopoulos declined to say whether Rep. Bill DeWeese had invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.


He said only that DeWeese will not be a witness in the trial of three former legislative aides and Mike Veon -- the No. 2 ranking leader until late 2006.

DeWeese was himself charged in December as a result of the same investigation.

His name has arisen repeatedly during the trial of Veon and the others.

Bryan Walk, attorney for defendant Brett Cott, said DeWeese had been at the top of the defense's witness wish list.