Eversole lawyers strike at 'inferences of impropriety' claims

Defense lawyers for embattled Pct. 4 County Commissioner Jerry Eversole beat back "inferences of impropriety" Wednesday during the second day of the elected official's federal trial for bribery.

Eversole is accused of taking more than $100,000 in cash and gifts from friend and real estate developer Michael Surface in exchange for influence on five multimillion dollar development contracts.

Several witnesses for the prosecution, including former City Councilman Bert Keller, who consulted for one of the failed bidders on a project, testified about real estate contracts and Harris county's "request for proposal" system.

Most of that testimony focused on Surface, who is expected to be tried this fall.

Eversole's attorney, Rusty Hardin, argued that prosecutors want jurors to "infer something improper" based on the intricacies of navigating the political process.

In bold fashion, Hardin opened the floor to almost every witness to describe in their own words anything they saw that indicated Eversole's behavior was illegal or unethical, with no takers.

Prosecutors will continue to build their case when the trial resumes Monday in U.S. District Judge David Hittner's court.

brian.rogers@chron.com