Former Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson pleaded not guilty Tuesday to taking hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of bribes from developers while in office. Speaking to reporters on the steps of the federal courthouse in Greenbelt after his arraignment, Johnson said he doesn’t “recognize the person” federal prosecutors describe in the eight-count indictment. Johnson is charged with conspiracy, extortion and bribery as well as tampering with a witness and evidence.
“We’re going to fight,” Johnson said of the charges. “My reputation is at stake. Everything’s at stake.”
Johnson, 61, arrived at U.S. District Court in a black Lincoln Navigator with his attorney, Billy Martin.
“We are going to attack the wiretaps and all the information that has been used by the FBI in this investigation,” Martin said.
U.S. District Court Judge William Connelly did not set a trial date.
Johnson’s wife, County Councilwoman Leslie Johnson, has been charged — but has not been indicted — on federal tampering charges.
The FBI said it secretly recorded the married couple discussing ways to hide and destroy bribes, including flushing a check down the toilet and hiding $79,600 in cash in Leslie Johnson’s bra and underwear in November.
Leslie Johnson was not present in court Tuesday, but earlier in the day attended the council’s weekly meeting. She was set to appear in court last week for a preliminary hearing, but asked a judge to postpone it –and thus, her possible indictment –until April 6.
Hardy Vieux, an attorney for Leslie Johnson, declined to comment on why an extension was requested.
But Jacob Frenkel, a former federal prosecutor who practices law in Maryland, said it’s likely that Leslie Johnson is working hard to strike a plea deal with federal prosecutors.
“Experience dictates these extensions are about plea negotiations and nothing else,” Frenkel said.
Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker on Tuesday refused to comment on the allegations lodged against the Johnsons.
“My job and what people elected me to do was to move the county forward,” he said on WTOP radio. “Not to look at the past or to actually spend time on issues that I can’t control. The court system is going to play out the way it plays out.”
