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American Morning

Atlanta Brave Andruw Jones Testifies to Prostitution in Racketeering Trial

Aired July 25, 2001 - 11:36   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: There was more talk today in the federal racketeering trial of an Atlanta strip club owner.

CNN national correspondent Brian Cabell is here to talk about the testimony, which, Brian, was rather explicit testimony, from an Atlanta Brave baseball player.

BRIAN CABELL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, it was, Stephen. No baseball uniform for Andruw Jones, their star outfielder this morning. Instead, he wore a dapper black suit with a blue shirt and blue tie. If he were nervous, he didn't appear overly so -- a few nervous smiles and laughed, but that was about it.

The questioning of him was gentle, for the most part. He testified that back in 1996, his first year with the Braves -- '97 -- he wasn't sure which, he went to the Gold Club, was approached by Steve Kaplan, the owner of the Gold Club, and was asked if he wanted to go to a party. He said yes, and he was taken by limousine to the Hotel Nikko, which is an upscale hotel here in north Atlanta.

In the room in the hotel, he said there were two women, engaging in lesbian sex, and maybe five or six men he estimated. After a while, that turned into oral intercourse between the women and the men. And after a while, it was sexual intercourse between the women and the men.

He was asked by the prosecutor, Were you taking part in the sexual intercourse?

He said yes.

He was up on the stand for about 15 minutes, and then he was sent away.

There are no charges against him, of course. He is just being brought here to testify.

Incidentally, he said he didn't pay anything, didn't tip anything -- he didn't think he had to. He was comped frequently at the Gold Club, he said.

He and Patrick Ewing were brought in on Monday, to try to prove charges of prostitution and an overall racketeering indictment against seven individuals.

By the way, this is Jones' second touch with legal activity in the last few days. Just a few days ago, he was sued by a woman -- he and the Braves -- because he threw a ball into the stands. Unfortunately, that ball hit a woman in the head; she is now suing for medical costs.

Jones, this afternoon, 1:00, changes out of his suit, gets into a baseball uniform, and plays a game for the Braves.

I'm Brian Cabell, CNN, live, in Atlanta.

NELSON: Brian, thank you.

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