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HARRISBURG -- Former House Democratic Whip Mike Veon didn't need to testify in his defense because the prosecution's case was weak, his attorney said Wednesday after the defense rested its case in Veon's public corruption trial.

"I don't think this is even a close call," said Phoenix lawyer Dan Raynak, a friend of Veon's from their days at Allegheny College.

Raynak said the prosecution by the attorney general's office was based largely on the testimony of witnesses with "incredibly favorable plea agreements," who had an interest in testifying the way prosecutors wanted.

Veon, 53, and three aides are charged with theft, conflict of interest and conspiracy for allegedly using public resources for campaigns. Veon, formerly of Beaver Falls, is accused of overseeing a $1.4 million state-paid bonus program allegedly used to get legislative staffers to volunteer for House Democrats' campaigns.

The trial in Dauphin County Court is in its sixth week. Closing arguments will begin today.

Veon's three former aides declined to testify. Dauphin County Judge Richard Lewis told Veon and his co-defendants he will tell the jury they can draw no inference from the defendants' decision to remain silent.

Defense lawyers ended their case yesterday after three days of testimony, calling 25 witnesses.

The evidence "doesn't come close to meeting reasonable doubt," a standard the prosecution must meet for a conviction, said Bryan Walk, attorney for Brett Cott, Veon's former policy aide.

But Senior Deputy Attorney General E. Marc Costanzo said the "commonwealth has proven its case on each defendant."

Annamarie Peretta-Rosepink, Veon's former office manager in Beaver Falls, "didn't need to testify," said Carlisle attorney Michael Palermo. Rosepink had no authority to award bonuses, Palermo said.

As for former Veon aide Steve Keefer, "the evidence against him is very, very slim," said Harrisburg lawyer William Fetterhoff.

The state presented 29 witnesses, some of whom alleged that Veon approved secret bonuses for his staff for doing campaign work. E-mails allegedly showing Veon's involvement in the bonus scheme were presented.

A long line of Veon staffers, current and former, testified that they did political work for him on state time and with state equipment. One witness said 80 percent of his state job on Veon's staff was raising campaign money.

As a result of a ruling by Lewis, Raynak said, he won't be able to argue to the jury that Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican candidate for governor, engaged in "selective prosecution" of Democrats, but Raynak told reporters that's what he believes.

"Is it a political prosecution to get Tom Corbett elected? Absolutely. This was a political prosecution, really a political persecution," Raynak said.

Corbett said the charges are based on work by professional prosecutors and the charges were recommended by a grand jury.

Ten Republicans, including former House Speaker John Perzel of Philadelphia, have been charged by Corbett's office in a separate case that alleges taxpayer-purchased computer equipment and programs were used to give Republicans an edge in elections.

Veon's lawyers contended former Democratic leader Bill DeWeese of Greene County was the culprit in any illegal bonus scheme. DeWeese on Tuesday invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself in a closed-door session with Lewis. DeWeese has long denied any knowledge of the secret bonuses.

DeWeese is charged in a separate case with using his office staff to run his campaigns. His attorney, William C. Costopoulos, maintains that DeWeese is innocent.

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