A billionaire Hollywood star took the stand for a second day on Monday in Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial, acknowledging that the long list of champagne, cigars and jewelry he systematically gave to the Israeli prime minister may have been excessive.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, arrives at the District Court in Jerusalem, Israel, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan was testifying Sunday at Netanyahus corruption trial to answer questions about an alleged supply line of champagne and cigars funneled to the Israeli leader and his wife said to have been in exchange for help with Milchans personal and business needs. Milchan appeared by videoconference from the English city of Brighton.
Prosecutors hope his testimony, which began Sunday and is expected to last some two weeks, will provide details about the abundance of gifts given to Netanyahu and his wife. The gifts, the prosecutors maintain, led to favors from Netanyahu that advanced Milchan's interests.In his first day of testimony, Milchan described a friendship that included some gifts to the Netanyahus that turned into regular requests and “transformed into a routine.
On Monday, Milchan said the gifts didn't affect his friendship with the Netanyahus until a police investigation was opened and at which point, he said he realized the gifts were “excessive.”Milchan also again stressed that he considered the Netanyahus friends, but recounted that he told police he felt uncomfortable that his gifts were not reciprocated.
Milchan testified Monday that he had turned to Netanyahu and others for help about the visa extension. He said Kerry called him one day and met with him at a hotel. Describing Kerry as a good friend, he said he was told Kerry could not help. The testimony is being aired in a Jerusalem courtroom for judges and other lawyers — who can also ask questions of Milchan — and for journalists and other attendees to watch.
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