Former ODU president ordered to testify in bribery trial

Former Old Dominion University President Roseann Runte will have to provide testimony for former state Del. Phil Hamilton's bribery and extortion trial, the judge in the case ruled Friday.

Runte had tried to avoid testifying, saying she's too busy.

In legal papers filed Friday on her behalf by a Washington attorney, Runte said she has a full schedule of meetings, speeches and other events as president of Carleton University. She said changing her schedule on short notice for a trial deposition "would greatly inconvenience both Dr. Runte and negatively reflect on the university."

U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson denied her plea within hours, clearing the way for Hamilton's attorney, Andrew Sacks, to take Runte's deposition before the trial begins May 2. Sacks has filed notice of his intent to do so Friday in Runte's office in Ottawa, Ontario. Runte's testimony will be videotaped for use during the trial.

An internal audit at ODU in 2009 found that Runte met with Hamilton three times before the state lawmaker was put on the university payroll in 2007. He arranged the job as director of a new teacher training center while he was helping secure funding for it in the legislature.

The university paid Hamilton $80,000 over two years. The Newport News Republican's relationship with ODU became an issue in his re-election campaign, and he was defeated in 2009 after a 21-year legislative career.

Runte has acknowledged meeting with Hamilton about his efforts to fund the teacher center but says she had no involvement in or knowledge of his being hired to run it.

In legal papers seeking Runte's testimony, Hamilton has indicated she would be expected to rebut government witnesses' testimony about her role in the affair.

He has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges, saying he never conditioned his support for funding on getting a job.

Bill Sizemore, (757) 446-2276, bill.sizemore@pilotonline.com

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DOCUMENT: ROSEANN RUNTE'S MOTION