Indicted Assemblyman Eric Stevenson is in serious need of some civics classes.
After initially planning to testify in a Manhattan federal court trial in which he’s accused of pocketing $22,000 in bribes, the Bronx pol changed his playbook on Friday by opting to remain mum, claiming he was wrongfully under the impression that he was required by law to take the witness stand as a defendant.
“I thought I had to testify, but after [Chief Judge Loretta Preska] read the charges, I [realized] legally that I did not have to, so I said ‘fine, I did not want to do it,’ ” Stevenson told reporters after both prosecutors and his lawyer completed their cases.
When asked why he didn’t want to testify, he proclaimed his innocence, saying ”the burden of proof is on the government” and that its star witness flopped on the stand.
“He was caught in multiple lies,” said Stevenson, referring to Sigfredo Gonzalez, a political operative with a long rap sheet who wore a wire for the feds. “He turned off his [wire microphone] to be with a hooker.”
Gonzalez on Wednesday told jurors he once stopped recording to privately enjoy a “b—w job” with a prostitute, which was paid for by four businessmen who allegedly bribed Stevenson for his help opening Bronx adult day-care centers and blocking competition.
Stevenson’s lawyer, Muhammad Ibn Bashir, said he left the decision of whether to testify up to his client and felt no need to present any witnesses in his defense.
“I think we presented a pretty good case,” he said.
Jurors will begin deliberating following closing remarks by lawyers for both sides on Monday.
While it’s unclear whether Stevenson made an impression with jurors, he made quite an impression with one female government witness.
Angelica Vasquez, an administrative assistant at Empire Auto Sales in New Jersey, testified that Stevenson forked over $3,400 in down payments for a 2003 Jaguar sold for $10,553 — only days after the feds claim Stevenson pocketed a $10,000 cash bribe.
Vasquez said she remembered him because he smelled good and showed up looking slick in a suit.
“I remember him because customers don’t usually come in with a suit,” she said, adding that Stevenson’s cologne “left a nice smell in the office.”