Racketeering trial of Ironworkers' union boss headed to jury

Two views of Philadelphia Ironworkers Union boss Joseph Dougherty - general waging a vandalism campaign against nonunion contractors, or aging leader undermined by ruthless underlings - will shortly be given to a federal jury to decide.

U.S. District Judge Michael M. Baylson began instructing the jury in the relevant law at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Afterward, the 12 jurors will decide whether the 73-year-old Local 401 business manager is guilty of racketeering conspiracy, arson and extortion.

The trial began Tuesday with Dougherty's lawyer presenting a brief defense: 10 character witnesses who testified and another 14 who rose as their names were called, who praised Dougherty's generosity, union leadership and reputation for honesty.

Dougherty elected not to testify and the trial moved immediately to closing arguments.

Citing the parade of character witnesses, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Livermore said there was no doubt Dougherty improved the lives of his union members and won their loyalty.

But Dougherty's voice of FBI wiretaps also made it clear that the union boss hated nonunion contractors and believed in using arson, intimidation and extortion to force them to hire union ironworkers.

"He calls them pigs and he treats them worse than any pig should be treated," Livermore said, adding that Dougherty "created a culture within the union where these acts were not only tolerated, but they were rewarded."

Defense attorney Fortunato N. Perri Jr. told the jury in his closing not to be swayed by the tough, expletive-peppered tenor of the wiretap tapes.

Perri called the recorded conversions between Dougherty and his four union business agents "the rantings of an aging man."

"Sometimes you have to say things to make yourself sound like a bad guy, like a tough guy," Perri said, adding "He can't look weak, he's beholden to the same membership that they are."

Perri maintained that the acts of violence against about two dozen nonunion sites from 2008 to 2014 were not ordered or planned by Dougherty.

Rather, the defense lawyer argued, the acts were the work of the four business agents trying to preserve their elected positions and financial benefits and jostling for power to possibly succeed Dougherty.

Perri told the jury not to trust the testimony of some of the 11 Local 401 officials and members who pleaded guilty and testified under deals with the government for a lesser sentence.

"They are convicted liars and criminals, a small group going out and committing crimes," Perri added.

Source: Philly.com