HARRISBURG -- Dauphin County Common Pleas Judge Richard A. Lewis admonished attorneys for "rude, discourteous, obstructive and even obnoxious behavior" during the ongoing Bonusgate government corruption trial and threatened them with fines or imprisonment if they don't behave.

"Any offensive behavior . . . will be grounds for contempt and sanctions," he told attorneys this morning before jurors entered the courtroom.

The warning came after nearly four weeks of bickering among attorneys, sometimes in the presence of jurors.

"The combativeness . . . must cease immediately," Judge Lewis told attorneys. He also warned them to stop "glaring" and "staring" at jurors and to stop intimidating and shouting at witnesses.

"While hard questions are more than appropriate, they should be asked professionally," he said.

He said the attorneys' conduct has increased the length of the trial. Jurors were told the trial would last four weeks, but at least 30 more witnesses remain to be called.

On trial are Mike Veon, who represented Beaver Falls in the state House for 22 years, and three former legislative aides.

Testimony in the case continues today.

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