A deposition in Isles co-Owner Howard Milstein's suit
against former Redskins Owner John Kent Cooke and former GM
Charley Casserly has revealed that an "executive-level
employee" of Milstein "went undercover in an unusual effort
to dig up dirt" against Cooke, according to Bill Miller of
the WASHINGTON POST. Milford Plaza Hotel Managing Dir
Anthony Bergamo, whose hotel is a Milstein property, used
the pseudonym Anthony Burke and "posed as a businessman"
attempting to "strike deals with Cooke" and Casserly.
During those dealings, Bergamo "tried to steer conversations
to the sale of the Redskins and hoped to catch one or both
of the men maligning Milstein." Bergamo even "tried to use
a hidden tape recorder" in one meeting with Cooke. Miller
noted that Bergamo's actions "could wind up hurting"
Milstein, rather than helping him. Miller: "Not only did
his activities apparently fail to yield the evidence he
sought, they've created an obstacle in Milstein's lawsuit
alleging Cooke and Casserly doomed his bid to buy the team."
In the deposition obtained by the POST, Bergamo details how
he "turned into a relentless private eye for Milstein's
Washington Sports Ventures" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/25).
