Gavel-to-Gavel Coverage of the Eagen bribery trial, plus Archives

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Friday, Oct. 22, 1999
'A matter of honor' for Eagen
By Ray Flanagan
Frank Eagen, whose honor and job were wrested from him in the thick of a bribery investigation, said Thursday he is ready to continue the struggle to completely clear himself until he wins or has no place else to fight.

Thursday, Oct. 21, 1999

Rich Banick photo	Former Lackawanna County Judge Frank Eagen exits the Dauphin County Courthouse during a break in the final day of his trial.
Jury splits verdict on Eagen By Ray Flanagan HARRISBURG -- Frank Eagen, who lost his Lackawanna County judgeship because he was under investigation for taking kickbacks, was acquitted Wednesday of bribery charges, but found guilty of obstructing law-enforcement agents. ťANALYSIS: Outcome provides few answers ťThree local lawyers surprised by decision

Wednesday, Oct. 20, 1999
Eagen's fate in hands of jurors
By Ray Flanagan
HARRISBURG -- The fate of former Lackawanna County Judge Frank Eagen now lies with a Dauphin County jury.
ťProsecution picks at Eagen key witness

Eagen admits, explains lie to DA
Jury to start deliberations
By Ray Flanagan
HARRISBURG -- An unapologetic Frank Eagen admitted Tuesday that he deceived Lackawanna County District Attorney Michael Barrasse, explaining he was trying to gain time to save his judgeship, which was threatened by an "investigation that was out of control."

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 1999
Eagen says DA wouldn't hear his side
By Ray Flanagan
HARRISBURG -- Frank Eagen, who lost his Lackawanna County judgeship after he was named a target of a bribery investigation, testified today District Attorney Michael Barrasse "had no intention of listening to my side of the story."

Eagen's defense rips Bosha
By Ray Flanagan
HARRISBURG -- James Rusnock testified Monday that Phillip Bosha told him he became so upset at falsely accusing former Lackawanna County Judge Frank Eagen of taking bribes that he went home and "nearly puked his guts out."
ťTimes-Tribune newsmen refuse to identify source

Monday, Oct. 18, 1999
Effort to block testimony slows trial
By Ray Flanagan
HARRISBURG -- A prosecution effort to prevent an FBI agent from testifying about what he told a Lackawanna County grand jury slowed the bribery-obstruction trial of former Judge Frank Eagen today.

Sunday, Oct. 17, 1999
Eagen verdict will determine heroes, villains
By Ray Flanagan
HARRISBURG -- A screenwriter would have no trouble crafting a plot no matter how the bribery and obstruction of justice trial of former Lackawanna County judge Frank Eagen ends.

Saturday, Oct. 16, 1999
Barrasse had deal For Eagen
By Ray Flanagan
HARRISBURG -- Lackawanna County District Attorney Michael Barrasse testified Friday he told former Judge Frank Eagen on April 3, 1997, he would not prosecute him on criminal charges if he would resign and publicly admit wrongdoing in his handling of estates.
ťNewsmen ordered to reveal sources

Friday, Oct. 15, 1999
Star witness tells of kickbacks
By Ray Flanagan
HARRISBURG -- Phillip Bosha -- the marquee witness against former Lackawanna County Judge Frank Eagen -- described Thursday to a Dauphin County jury five instances in which he passed cash-filled envelopes to the judge.

Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999
Prosecution hitting hard at reaction
By Ray Flanagan
HARRISBURG -- Some nine months after the estates probe had heated up, then-Lackawanna County Judge Frank Eagen verbally accosted Phillip Bosha in a newsstand near the courthouse, a prosecution witness testified today.
ťHere's what Eagen jurors must sort out

Portraits of Eagen emerge
By Ray Flanagan
HARRISBURG -- Who is the real Frank Eagen? A prosecutor and Mr. Eagen's attorney painted opposite portraits during opening statements Wednesday in the ex-Lackawanna County judge's bribery trial.

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1999
Prosecutor says Eagen dishonored office;
Defense attorney alleges 'big lie' by DA
By Ray Flanagan
HARRISBURG -- Former Lackawanna County Judge Frank Eagen besmirched his judicial office by accepting bribes, state Deputy Attorney General Patrick Blessington told jurors today at the ex-judge's trial in Dauphin County Court.

Eagen testimony set to start
By Ray Flanagan
HARRISBURG -- Fourteen Dauphin County residents were chosen Tuesday to decide whether former Lackawanna County Judge Frank Eagen accepted bribes for awarding estate guardianships and tried to stymie the investigation that led to his arrest.

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1999
Jury selection begins in ex-judge's trial
By Ray Flanagan
HARRISBURG -- Jury selection began today in the criminal trial of former Lackawanna County Judge Frank Eagen.

Sunday, Oct. 11, 1999
Eagen to come out swinging
By Ray Flanagan
The theory that the best defense is a good offense apparently will be tried when former Lackawanna County Judge Frank Eagen goes on trial Tuesday in Dauphin County on bribery and obstruction of justice charges.
MORE ON THE STORY
ťEagen faces 7 charges, 12 counts
ťJury will have to consider star witness' motives