Prosecutor tries to poke holes in Potter’s claims

Friday, July 29, 2005 | 9:24 a.m.

WORCESTER, Mass. -- A federal prosecutor tried Thursday to discredit a British gambling executive's claim that he knew nothing about the role of the speaker of the Rhode Island House when he allegedly conspired to offer him a $4 million bribe.

Nigel Potter, former chief executive of Wembley PLC, is one of two former executives affiliated with Lincoln Park charged with plotting to bribe former Speaker John Harwood in hopes of winning his support for a plan to add slot machines at the dog track. Until recently, British-based Wembley owned the track in Lincoln, R.I.

Potter was cross-examined Thursday in the conspiracy trial in federal court in Worcester. Prosecutor Lee Vilker sought to undermine Potter's claim that he didn't know whether Harwood had any political power.

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