And while Godfrey's fight with the government has been more bark than bite on both sides, his difference with attorney Chris Coye has been real. In March the former DFC Chairman testified that Coye, who worked at the Godfrey law firm, had been retained privately to do work on the Novelo's transaction which attracted over a million dollars in charges and fees. Godfrey claimed Coye had been subcontracted by attorney Norman Neal and did not do the work for his firm - thus there could be no allegation of a conflict of interest. But Coye refuted that. He said he was doing it for and on behalf of Glenn D. Godfrey and Company.
So last night, here's how Godfrey backtracked and for context we also include his original misstatement.
Glen Godfrey,
"I was being questioned before the Commission. One of the Commissioners was asking a question, before I am halfway through, another Commissioner buts in and says something so I never was able to lay out exactly what I was saying."
[March 14, 2007]
Merlene Bailey-Martinez,
"Did your law firm provide services for Novelo's Limited with respect to this?"
Glen Godfrey,
"No."
Merlene Bailey-Martinez,
"Was your law firm paid money with respect to this loan?"
Glen Godfrey,
"My law firm was never engaged by either Novelo's or by the DFC to do anything with this loan."
Merlene Bailey-Martinez,
"The Glen D. Godfrey law firm."
Glen Godfrey,
"Absolutely."
Merlene Bailey-Martinez,
"So if we have documentation to the contrary you are saying that that is incorrect?"
Glen Godfrey,
"I am saying it is so."
Merlene Bailey-Martinez,
"Did your law firm receive financial compensation in relation to this Novelo's loan?"
Glen Godfrey,
"A member of my law firm assisted Mr. Norman Neal."
[Click Here for full March 14th 2007 Story]
Glen Godfrey,
"He called me in the evening and he said how could you say that. I asked what did he mean and he said you gave the impression that I did this thing on my own, that I wasn't working for the firm. I said no, no, that's not my intention. He said well that's the impression I gave. I said well I will write a letter immediately to clear that up, if that's the impression and I did, I did the same day. But there was no benefit in claiming he wasn't working for the firm. He was clearly working for the firm."
After Godfrey's testimony in March, Coye and Neal were called to testify in camera before the DFC Commission.
