Federal prosecutors seek gag order for Turner in bribery case

Federal prosecutors urged a judge yesterday to prohibit Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner from revealing, or even talking about, evidence and witnesses the government is relying on to convince a jury that he pocketed a $1,000 bribe.

In motions filed in US District Court in Boston, prosecutors said Turner's codefendant, former state senator Dianne Wilkerson, has agreed not to disclose evidence that prosecutors will turn over to the defense prior to trial, in exchange for getting the information earlier than is required by law. But Turner has not.

The material includes FBI tapes of conversations involving purported bribes to Turner and Wilkerson, grand jury testimony, and personal information about potential witnesses.

"Mr. Turner has held a series of press conferences and rallies since he was charged in this matter, aimed in part at bolstering his character and attacking the government's motives for seeking an indictment against him from the grand jury," wrote Assistant US Attorney John T. McNeil.

He added that it was likely Turner will "selectively" disclose details of the government's case, unless the court issues a protective order prohibiting him from sharing that information with anyone but his defense team.

Turner, 68, a five-term city councilor, has proclaimed his innocence since his November arrest and said he is determined to defend himself publicly as he runs for reelection this year.

In court documents, McNeil argued that the selective release of evidence could have a negative impact on witnesses and on Wilkerson's right to a fair trial.

"Among other things, witnesses may be indirectly intimidated from testifying, witnesses may be influenced to alter their testimony, prospective jurors may be unfairly influenced, persons whose names appeared in the investigation but who have not been charged may be unfairly exposed, personal privacy information of witnesses and the codefendant may be released, and grand jury material may be released," McNeil wrote.

Turner said yesterday that his legal team is reviewing the government's motions and may release a statement tomorrow or schedule a press conference.

Boston defense lawyer Max Stern, who represents Wilkerson, said, "We certainly don't have any issue with anything Chuck Turner is saying."

Stern said he had not requested a protective order, but "simply assented to it as a means of getting more and earlier discovery [evidence] than we'd usually get."

Prosecutors told the court that they agreed to turn over evidence earlier than required, but only if the defense agreed not to publicly disclose it.

Turner has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, attempted extortion, and making false statements, and Wilkerson has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and extortion charges.

Turner is accused of taking a $1,000 bribe in August 2007 from a Roxbury nightclub owner who was secretly cooperating with the FBI.

Wilkerson, a Roxbury Democrat, was arrested in October and a month later resigned her Senate seat of 15 years. She is accused of accepting $23,500 in bribes to help secure a liquor license for a nightclub in her district and to push legislation paving the way for a Roxbury development.