Lawyer says aide inflated freebies' worth

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- An aide to former U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Okla., inflated the worth of freebies to protect himself, the lawyer for a lobbyist on trial for corruption said.

Attorney Andrew Wise said it made "no sense" that aide John Albaugh was so corrupted by concert tickets that he helped secure millions of dollars in road projects for lobbyist Kevin Ring in 2003, The Oklahoma City Oklahoman reported Tuesday.

The three-week federal trial in Oklahoma City was given to the jury Monday.

During closing arguments Monday, Wise said Albaugh helped out those who made substantial

contributions to Istook. Besides Ring, disgraced and imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff gave money to Istook and helped raise more, Wise said.

Ring faces eight charges of conspiracy and fraud in connection with gifts he gave to Albaugh and others allegedly in exchange for help for his clients.

Albaugh pleaded guilty to a sole corruption count last year and agreed to cooperate with the government in the case against Ring. A federal prosecutor said Monday that Albaugh was corrupted by all the tickets and meals Ring gave him.

"He was getting tickets, and he was giving Ring taxpayer money," Justice Department attorney Michael Leotta said.

"The idea that John Albaugh was taking these actions because of the tickets is simply not correct," Wise said. "He was doing it to take care of his boss's supporters."