'Whitey' Bulger's Alleged Bribes and Threat Recounted By Corrupt FBI Agent
BOSTON June 28, 2013— -- Rogue FBI supervisor John Morris has testified that he gave his underling information that got a cooperating witness killed.
He slept with his secretary and let accused Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger buy her a plane ticket. When his wife tossed him out, Morris lived in another informant's apartment.
He took envelopes stuffed with cash along with so many expensive deliveries of wine that Bulger's Winter Hill gang nicknamed him "Vino."
But, other than that, John Morris told the court in Bulger's trial, his "record was spotless."
Morris took the stand for a second day today and was grilled about the how he and FBI special agent John Connolly treated informant BS 1544-OC, the FBI's code for Bulger. Morris also testified about how Bulger's powerful politician brother, William, gave him and Connolly clout in the city.
"I knew I was completely trapped. I was in so far I could never get out," Morris told the court. "I felt helpless. I didn't know what to do."
On Thursday, Bulger grumbled at the FBI supervisor under his breath as Morris took the stand saying: "You're a f***ing liar."
Bulger is being tried on a 32-count federal indictment charging him with a slew of crimes connected to running the rackets in Boston, including 19 murders.
Bulger's alleged criminal enterprise, Morris admitted, was helped by the FBI.
"I had lost effectiveness. I was really compromised and went along with what John [Connolly] requested," Morris told the court.
Under questioning by Bulger defense attorney Hank Brennan, Morris admitted that he did not come clean about his criminal behavior until he was granted immunity from prosecution, not because of his nagging conscience as he suggested on the stand Thursday.
"I didn't want to carry that burden anymore," Morris had told the court.
But his life was anything but a burden when he was treated like a mobster out of the movie Goodfellas because of the Bulger brothers.
One year, Morris testified, he and Connolly were slipped into the back door of the St. Patrick's Day breakfast without a ticket, which Morris described on the stand as "the single, most spectacular, political event of the year."
Morris then told the court: "It is hosted by the Senate president and attended by the 'who's who' in politics."
Federal prosecutor Fred Wyshak asked Morris where he sat once they were inside.
"In the front row," Morris answered.
But it began to unravel with the murder of Brian Halloran, who was slated to testify against Bulger and the Winter Hill Gang and was about to enter WitSec, the witness protection program, when he was shot and killed along with another man. Bulger is accused of pulling the trigger himself in that hit.
"I didn't want another Halloran," Morris testified.Still, he didn't panic until 1995 when Bulger and his alleged accomplice Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, were indicted.
"I knew that I was clearly compromised in my responsibilities in anything to do with Mr. Bulger and Mr. Flemmi," Morris said on the stand.
Later he added: "I certainly didn't want my bad behavior known."
And he did not want to be taken out by Bulger, he said. A phone call from the fugitive gangster nearly scared Morris to death when Bulger told him he better set the record straight with a Boston newspaper that had reported the legendary South Boston gangster had been a longtime FBI informant.
Soon after that phone call, Morris testified, he went into full cardiac arrest.
"I couldn't take it anymore," Morris told the court. "I had to get out."
He asked his FBI superiors if he could make a deal. By 1998 Morris had been granted immunity in connection with his crimes in exchange for his testimony against the man he repeatedly called "his best friend" on the stand: John Connolly.
Once again it appeared Bulger's defense team was intent on preserving his criminal reputation other than win their client's acquittal.
"The truth is, Mr. Morris, Mr. Bulger was buying (information), he wasn't selling, was he?" Brennan asked Morris.
"I didn't interpret it as a quid pro quo," Morris replied.
The cross examination of Morris is expected to continue on Monday.
