NEW YORK, NY December 06, 2005 —Clarence Norman took the stand in his defense yesterday. The former Assemblyman and Brooklyn Democratic Party chief is accused of pocketing a check intended for his campaign. WNYC's Fred Mogul has more.

Norman came across more composed and confident on the stand than he did in a previous trial, where he was found guilty of violating election law. He admitted knowing that the $5,000 check in question was made out to his campaign committee and labeled "contribution," but that he believed it was filled out mistakenly.

He repeatedly said he thought the check was a reimbursement for money he advanced out of his personal checking account to fellow Brooklyn Assembly person Diane Gordon. The two were working for Alan Hevesi's 2001 mayoral primary bid, but Gordon said she was going to pull out, unless she got money to pay for what's commonly called "street money" - money to pay workers to knock on doors and distribute campaign literature.

Norman testified that he didn't really know what Gordon did with the money. She was going to take the stand for his defense, but abruptly changed course and took the Fifth Amendment. Prosecutors have tried to prove that Norman, a former prosecutor himself, knew what he was doing was illegal.