Actor George Clooney, a cast member in the motion picture dramatic comedy "The Descendants", attends the premiere of the film with actress Stacy Keibler at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, in Beverly Hills on November 15, 2011. UPI/Jim Ruymen |
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MILAN, Italy, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- An Italian court has cleared the way for U.S. actor George Clooney to testify in the sex scandal trial of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Italian news agency Adnkronos International reported Wednesday Clooney, who lives much of the year at his villa on Lake Como near Milan, is on a list of potential witnesses submitted by Berlusconi's defense attorneys. The list also includes Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, who the court also says can testify. The Oscar winner and Real Madrid player attended parties held by Berlusconi and the defense contends they can attest there were no illicit sexual activities at dinner parties at Berlusconi's Arcore residence, AKI said.
Berlusconi, 75, who resigned as premier this month amid Italy's financial crisis, is accused of paying for sex with an alleged underage prostitute from Morocco who went by the name "Ruby" and using his political office to cover it up.
Another Italian news agency, Agenzia Giornalistica Italia, reported Clooney and Ronaldo are among 214 witnesses the Milan court has approved for the trial. Of the total, 78 are defense witnesses and 136 are on the prosecutors' list.
The witness list is loaded with prominent names, including Clooney's ex-girlfriend, Elisabetta Canalis, former ministers Mara Carfagna and Franco Frattini, former Milan police chief Vincenzo Indolfi, Cabinet leader Pietro Ostuni, members of Parliament and showgirls.
