Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole pleaded not guilty in federal court Tuesday to felony charges of bribery and filing false income tax returns, denying accusations he had steered lucrative county contracts to a developer who had given him more than $100,000 in cash and gifts over the years.
... The indictment documents what it describes as a series of gifts from Surface to Eversole, including:
· A $63,000 cashier's check that Eversole used to buy land for a new home;
· Nearly $17,000 to pay for landscaping at Eversole's new home;
· A tailored suit that cost more than $1,000;
· Several antique firearms that cost more than $23,000, plus $10,000 to have ivory grips installed on several of Eversole's guns.
· Travel expenses for trips to Las Vegas, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, South Carolina and a Texas golf resort.
· $25,000 in collateral for a bank loan Eversole obtained.
According to the indictment, the two men discussed a plan in 2003 whereby Eversole would resign his seat and secure the appointment of Surface as his replacement so he could run as an incumbent in the next election.
Companies in which Surface had an interest have received several contracts to provide county facilities this decade. The indictment alleges that in June 2006, Eversole moved for consideration and voted to approve spending $4.9 million on a building in which Surface had an interest, despite requests by county staff to take the matter off the agenda if funding had not been authorized.
Here's a question: Where do we draw the line between a bribe and a contribution?
