Columnist Jeff German: Revealing look at attorney donations

Friday, Jan. 25, 2002 | 4:30 a.m.

LAWYERS ARE an interesting breed. They argue with each other in court with their morning coffee, but slap each other on the back over drinks at night.

To them there is nothing more important than defending a client -- except maybe preserving their legal brotherhood.

This point is illustrated when you look at the breakdown of campaign contributions in the district attorney's race from key players in the Ted Binion murder case, arguably the most well-publicized legal proceeding of all time in Las Vegas.

Lawyers in the case became mini-celebrities after having their mugs on local and national television every day for two months. People now are watching who they support in the competitive district attorney's race.

Round One in the hunt for Binion case contributions goes to Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger.

You may recall that Roger, a Republican who has collected the most money of the three leading candidates, obtained convictions in May 2000 of the two people charged with killing Binion, his girlfriend Sandy Murphy, and her new lover, Rick Tabish.

Before a jury of their peers found Murphy and Tabish guilty, their defense lawyers contended that the "Binion Money Machine" conspired with Roger and the rest of the world to railroad the two defendants.

The Binion Money Machine supposedly consisted of Binion's brother, gaming mogul Jack Binion, and his sister, Horseshoe Club owner Becky Behnen, both of whom never once spoke to each other during the entire two-year murder investigation and trial. The two siblings just aren't fond of each other.

If you subscribe to the Binion Money Machine theory, like Murphy's and Tabish's defense lawyers, you'd think that Jack Binion and Becky Behnen would have been among the early contributors to Roger's campaign.

Well, think again.

Campaign reports filed this month show that neither one has donated any money to Roger or anyone else in the race.

Assistant District Attorney Mike Davidson and Chief Deputy District Attorney Abby Silver also reported receiving no contributions from the dysfunctional Binion family.

Even Binion estate lawyer Richard Wright, one of Roger's key witnesses, didn't give money to the aggressive prosecutor. Instead, Wright donated $400 to Silver and $250 to Davidson.

But among Roger's early campaign supporters, the reports show, were the very defense lawyers who blasted away at the prosecutor's sweeping circumstantial case against the Binion murder defendants.

Murphy's attorney, John Momot, who coined the phrase Binion Money Machine during his opening trial argument, contributed $1,000 to Roger's campaign. He also gave $1,000 to Silver.

Tabish's lawyer, Louis Palazzo, who personally attacked Roger during the trial, gave the prosecutor $2,500. He donated a mere $500 to Silver's campaign.

Do you remember watching Momot and Palazzo on "Rivera Live" and Court TV berating the prosecution during the trial?

Now maybe you can see why lawyers often wind up being criticized for talking out of both sides of their mouths.

But there's more.

David Chesnoff, who withdrew from the case as Murphy's attorney before she was arrested in Binion's slaying, gave $5,000 to Roger. He also donated the same amount to Silver's campaign.

Several other defense lawyers who played lesser roles in the Binion case also contributed to Roger's campaign.

The reports show that Stan Hunterton shelled out $1,000 and James "Bucky" Buchanan gave $250. Tony Sgro bought $594 worth of campaign buttons, and his biggest civil client, topless nightclub owner Rick Rizzolo, who had nothing to do with the Binion case, donated $10,000.

You've got to love lawyers. They're an interesting breed.00