The fact that Dougherty was testifying at all — eight years after federal authorities' investigation of him first burst into public view with a series of FBI raids — was remarkable.READING — After two criminal trials, countless court hearings, and years spent in the crosshairs of the FBI, John Dougherty did something Wednesday he’s never done before:— took the witness stand during an unusual hearing pitting him against his former lawyer.
Testifying could have opened Dougherty up to aggressive cross-examination from prosecutors. And with the fast-talking, outspoken union chief’s conversational propensity to quickly bounce from topic to topic, there’s no telling where such an interrogation might have led. Had there been any improper pressure from Comcast or his bosses in his defense of Dougherty, Hockeimer said, he would have left his law firm.To prevail in his bid to overturn his conviction, Dougherty must not only prove that that there was a conflict but also that it harmed his defense in some way. Testifying Wednesday, the union chief zeroed in on Hockeimer’s decision not to call former Comcast executive vice president David L.