House Speaker, staffers called to testify

House Speaker Jim Black and three of his legislative staffers have received subpoenas to testify at a federal trial scheduled to begin next week involving mail and wire fraud charges against one of his appointees to the state lottery commission, according to Black's office.

The subpoenas of Black and other prominent state officials are not unexpected given their involvement in the start-up of the state lottery.

Black, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, appointed public relations executive Kevin L. Geddings to the lottery commission a year ago. Geddings had not disclosed on required financial interest forms his ties to Scientific Games, a major lottery company that had paid him $24,500 last year, much of it to help gain the lottery's passage.

Geddings, 41, formerly of Charlotte, resigned from the commission shortly before Scientific Games disclosed the payments. Black has said he had no knowledge of Geddings' involvement with Scientific Games, and chose him for the commission post after Charlotte attorney Bob Cordle told Black he could not serve.

Black's staffers who have been subpoenaed are legislative counsel Dianna Jessup, communications director Julie Robinson and policy analyst Angie Whitener.