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Actor Seagal: 'This is Insane'
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Actor Steven Seagal (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Feb 11, 2003
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By Anthony M. DeStefano
Staff Writer
February 11, 2003, 1:05 PM EST
Actor Steven Seagal, tanned but uncomfortable, reacted in anger when he was questioned in a mob racketeering trial about whether he ever asked someone to setup a man in compromising sexual situation.
“This is insane, insane,” Seagal blurted out combatively when he questioned about the subject on cross examination in the trial of reputed mob boss Peter Gotti and six other men.
“I am not on trial here!,” Seagal continued, as Judge Frederic Block interceded to sustain an objection by the prosecution to the question.
“This is crazy,” Seagal said.
Seagal, decked out in a brown silk Asian jacket, faded blue jeans and tan work shoes was the star attraction this morning in the Gotti case, packing the courtroom with news media, court personnel and the curious as he testified as a government witness.
Prosecutors contend that Seagal was the victim of an extortion attempt by his former business partner Julius Nasso, reputed Gambino captain Anthony “Sonny” Ciccone and reputed soldier PRimo Cassarino.
Under questioning by assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Genser, Seagal, 50, recounted his movie career and how his business relationship with Nasso deteriorated in the late 1990s. Seagal said that Nasso seemed to become erratic and depressed, prone to psychotic rages, when his marriage collapsed.
But when he tried to extricate him from the business relationship with Nasso, Seagal said Ciccone and Cassarino appeared and tried to pressure him to continue dealing with his old business partner. A key incident was a meeting at Gage & Tollner Restaurant in which Seagal said Ciccone tried to pressure him again.
Seagal admitted that he was being compelled to testify under a grant of immuntity and that he was very uncomfortable being on the witness stand.
Ciccone’s attorney George Santangelo got under Seagal’s collar when he began quesitoning him about conversations the actor had with a man named Herb Saunders, who allegedly had some ties to the CIA. Seagal responded with a terse “no” when Santangelo asked if the actor he ever asked Saunders to kill anyone.
But Seagal got more agitated when Santangelo asked if Seagal asked Saunders to set up someone in a compromising homosexual situation.
Block sustained the goverment’s objection.
“I see you are becoming more relaxed,” Block said to Seagal after the outburst, amid laughter in the courtroom.
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•About Us Actor Seagal: 'This is Insane'
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Printer friendly format
Photos
Actor Steven Seagal (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Feb 11, 2003
Top Stories
3 Crushed to Death in East Harlem Accident
Actor Seagal: 'This is Insane'
Man Gets 150 to Life in Internet Case
Bloomberg tells a jury about his undercover sting
Day-care Teachers To Strike
By Anthony M. DeStefano
Staff Writer
February 11, 2003, 1:05 PM EST
Actor Steven Seagal, tanned but uncomfortable, reacted in anger when he was questioned in a mob racketeering trial about whether he ever asked someone to setup a man in compromising sexual situation.
“This is insane, insane,” Seagal blurted out combatively when he questioned about the subject on cross examination in the trial of reputed mob boss Peter Gotti and six other men.
“I am not on trial here!,” Seagal continued, as Judge Frederic Block interceded to sustain an objection by the prosecution to the question.
“This is crazy,” Seagal said.
Seagal, decked out in a brown silk Asian jacket, faded blue jeans and tan work shoes was the star attraction this morning in the Gotti case, packing the courtroom with news media, court personnel and the curious as he testified as a government witness.
Prosecutors contend that Seagal was the victim of an extortion attempt by his former business partner Julius Nasso, reputed Gambino captain Anthony “Sonny” Ciccone and reputed soldier PRimo Cassarino.
Under questioning by assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Genser, Seagal, 50, recounted his movie career and how his business relationship with Nasso deteriorated in the late 1990s. Seagal said that Nasso seemed to become erratic and depressed, prone to psychotic rages, when his marriage collapsed.
But when he tried to extricate him from the business relationship with Nasso, Seagal said Ciccone and Cassarino appeared and tried to pressure him to continue dealing with his old business partner. A key incident was a meeting at Gage & Tollner Restaurant in which Seagal said Ciccone tried to pressure him again.
Seagal admitted that he was being compelled to testify under a grant of immuntity and that he was very uncomfortable being on the witness stand.
Ciccone’s attorney George Santangelo got under Seagal’s collar when he began quesitoning him about conversations the actor had with a man named Herb Saunders, who allegedly had some ties to the CIA. Seagal responded with a terse “no” when Santangelo asked if the actor he ever asked Saunders to kill anyone.
But Seagal got more agitated when Santangelo asked if Seagal asked Saunders to set up someone in a compromising homosexual situation.
Block sustained the goverment’s objection.
“I see you are becoming more relaxed,” Block said to Seagal after the outburst, amid laughter in the courtroom.
Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.
Jobs | Homes | Cars
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Actor Seagal: 'This is Insane'
Email this story
Printer friendly format
Photos
Actor Steven Seagal (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Feb 11, 2003
Top Stories
3 Crushed to Death in East Harlem Accident
Actor Seagal: 'This is Insane'
Man Gets 150 to Life in Internet Case
Bloomberg tells a jury about his undercover sting
Day-care Teachers To Strike
By Anthony M. DeStefano
Staff Writer
February 11, 2003, 1:05 PM EST
Actor Steven Seagal, tanned but uncomfortable, reacted in anger when he was questioned in a mob racketeering trial about whether he ever asked someone to setup a man in compromising sexual situation.
“This is insane, insane,” Seagal blurted out combatively when he questioned about the subject on cross examination in the trial of reputed mob boss Peter Gotti and six other men.
“I am not on trial here!,” Seagal continued, as Judge Frederic Block interceded to sustain an objection by the prosecution to the question.
“This is crazy,” Seagal said.
Seagal, decked out in a brown silk Asian jacket, faded blue jeans and tan work shoes was the star attraction this morning in the Gotti case, packing the courtroom with news media, court personnel and the curious as he testified as a government witness.
Prosecutors contend that Seagal was the victim of an extortion attempt by his former business partner Julius Nasso, reputed Gambino captain Anthony “Sonny” Ciccone and reputed soldier PRimo Cassarino.
Under questioning by assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Genser, Seagal, 50, recounted his movie career and how his business relationship with Nasso deteriorated in the late 1990s. Seagal said that Nasso seemed to become erratic and depressed, prone to psychotic rages, when his marriage collapsed.
But when he tried to extricate him from the business relationship with Nasso, Seagal said Ciccone and Cassarino appeared and tried to pressure him to continue dealing with his old business partner. A key incident was a meeting at Gage & Tollner Restaurant in which Seagal said Ciccone tried to pressure him again.
Seagal admitted that he was being compelled to testify under a grant of immuntity and that he was very uncomfortable being on the witness stand.
Ciccone’s attorney George Santangelo got under Seagal’s collar when he began quesitoning him about conversations the actor had with a man named Herb Saunders, who allegedly had some ties to the CIA. Seagal responded with a terse “no” when Santangelo asked if the actor he ever asked Saunders to kill anyone.
But Seagal got more agitated when Santangelo asked if Seagal asked Saunders to set up someone in a compromising homosexual situation.
Block sustained the goverment’s objection.
“I see you are becoming more relaxed,” Block said to Seagal after the outburst, amid laughter in the courtroom.
Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.
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