Analyst: High-Level Testimony In DiMasi Trial 'Politically Crucial'

Gov. Deval Patrick's former budget boss is expected to take the stand Tuesday in the federal corruption trial of former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi. Leslie Kirwan was secretary of administration and finance at the time DiMasi is alleged to have steered state contracts in favor of Cognos Corp., a software company.

Other Patrick officials are also on the witness list this week, as is the governor himself.

David Frank, of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, joined Morning Edition Tuesday and explained how crucial such high-level testimony can be in a trial.

"Politically it's crucial, but from the standpoint of the lawyers in the case, it's an important piece in the case, and it's obviously relevant evidence, but the evidence that's going to carry the day has come and gone," Frank said.

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