Silvio Berlusconi’s defense lawyers have named George Clooney and an assortment of showgirls as witnesses at the Prime Minister’s upcoming prostitution trial.
Clooney is to serve as a witness for Berlusconi in a case which alleges the Italian PM paid an underage girl for sex and then used the power of the PM’s office to cover it up.
The girl was 17 and working as a showgirl when she claims Berlusconi paid her for sex. She told Italian prosecutors thatClooney and his Italian girlfriend, Elisabetta Canalis, were in attendance at the event.
Clooney himself disputes the claims, saying it is odd he has been added as a witness.
“It seems odd since I’ve only met Berlusconi once and that was in an attempt to get aid into Darfur,” he said.
It is up to the judge in the case whether or not Clooney will actually take the stand. Clooney has yet to indicate his availability or willingness to attend, however.
Either way the trial is likely to be a major paparazzi event – with celebrities, soccer stars and showgirls in attendance.