Opinion ID: 3001171
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: District Court’s Refusal to Compel Produc-

Text: tion of Bethel’s Tax Records Bailey argues on appeal that the district court erred in denying his request for the production of Bethel’s tax records. Citing Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), he argues that the government denied his constitutional right to exculpatory evidence and that a judgment of acquittal is in order. The government disagrees, arguing first that it is not clear that it could have produced the documents at all and, second, that the defendant was not prejudiced by the lack of the records because Bethel admitted that he did not pay taxes on his informant income. It is not necessary to determine whether the district court erred or whether the government in fact had an obligation to track down and turn over Bethel’s tax records. Even if it was error to not produce the tax returns, Bailey was not prejudiced by their absence. Nondisclosure of material exculpatory evidence can deny an accused a fair trial. United States v. Hamilton, 107 F.3d 499, 509 (7th Cir. 1997). Evidence is material if “there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different.” Id. Conversely, “[e]vidence that impeaches an already thoroughly impeached witness is the definition of ‘cumulative impeachment’ evidence and its suppression cannot give rise to a Brady violation.” United States v. Kozinski, 16 F.3d 795, 819 (7th Cir. 1994). Because the tax records would have been cumulative, the district court did not err in refusing to order their 16 Nos. 07-1182, 07-1190 & 07-1191 disclosure. Even if Bailey had the tax records, the testimony at trial would not have changed one jot. Bailey cross-examined Bethel on whether he had paid taxes on his informant income. Bethel said that he had not, an admission that would ostensibly undermine his credibility. It is thus hard to see what benefit Bailey would have obtained by the tax records. The impeaching bell had been rung; the tax records would not have amplified the toll. Kozinski, 16 F.3d at 819 (stating that cumulative evidence is not material); United States v. Dweck, 913 F.2d 365, 371 (7th Cir. 1990) (same). Because there is no “reasonable probability” that the cumulative evidence would have changed the outcome, it was not material and no relief is available under Brady.