Barton J. Weidlich
Feds: Weidlich called witness a 'rat'
Pittston businessman Barton J. Weidlich encouraged a Luzerne County corruption probe witness to lie to a federal grand jury and later, after accusing the witness of cooperating with investigators, threatened the witness and asked, "How does it feel to be a rat?" federal prosecutors said.
Weidlich, 40, made the threats during a pair of telephone conversations last Thursday, first asking about the witness's whereabouts and demanding a face-to-face meeting, and later inquiring about the health and safety of the witness's family, the prosecutors said.
The witness, who was not identified in the affidavit, "perceived the conversation to be a threat to the safety and welfare" of his or her family and alerted the FBI, according to an affidavit filed in support of the obstruction of justice charge against Weidlich last Friday.
Weidlich is being held at the Lackawanna County Prison pending a bail hearing scheduled for 3:30 p.m. today in Wilkes-Barre. His attorney, David P. Clark, said Weidlich, "absolutely maintains his innocence" and "plans on fighting the charges vehemently."
Weidlich, a confidant of former Luzerne County Manager/Chief Clerk Sam Guesto, owned a contracting and advertising company that raked in more than $110,000 in county business since 2006.
According to federal prosecutors, Weidlich started pressuring the witness last month after they were both subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury probing county corruption.
The witness, a subject of the investigation who is cooperating with investigators "in the hope of a favorable charging decision," told the FBI about the alleged pressure and agreed to record any subsequent Weidlich conversations.
Weidlich and the witness spoke about the subpoenas several more times between Sept. 23 and Sept. 28.
Weidlich, suspecting the witness of cooperating with investigators, tried to thwart a possible recording, turning up the volume on the radio in a vehicle he and the witness were sitting in and, another time, taking the witness into a bathroom and turning up the volume on another radio.
"Although Weidlich took these measures, portions of the conversations were still audible, including a statement by Weidlich indicating that it was necessary to lie on the stand," prosecutors said.
Weidlich approached the witness Sept. 28 and asked whether their conversations were recorded, asking repeatedly if the witness was "wearing a wire" during their previous meetings.
Weidlich testified before the grand jury on Sept. 15, but asked to delay his scheduled Sept. 29 testimony. Weidlich appeared at the federal courthouse in Scranton on Sept. 29, but said he wanted to testify on a day Clark could accompany him.
The same day, FBI Special Agent James J. Glenn spoke with Weidlich and Clark on a conference call, warning Weidlich to refrain from any contact with "witnesses, potential witnesses and/or subjects in the ongoing political corruption investigation."
Weidlich was "explicitly advised" of concern that he had recently been involved in actions "designed to obstruct justice," prosecutors said. Clark said he also instructed Weidlich not to have any contact with witnesses, prosecutors said.
Weidlich "acknowledged his understanding" of the warning and stated he would have "no contact" with witnesses, prosecutors said.
Weidlich threatened the witness two days later, prosecutors said.
