The verdict followed a four-week trial in which the [Lyndon H. LaRouche Jr.] organization was exposed to rare public scrutiny. Several of the 51 witnesses were current LaRouche followers who testified for the government under immunity from prosecution.

The LaRouche organization had relatively stable income, mainly due to contributions and sales of its publications, from 1981 to 1983, evidence showed. Revenue shot up in 1984 as LaRouche, again running for president, pushed his troops to meet higher quotas on loans.

Defense witnesses also testified that the group was under siege from enemies waging "financial warfare" against LaRouche. Contributions and business revenue fell drastically in 1986 due to a raid on the Leesburg headquarters by federal investigators and negative media coverage after two LaRouche candidates won places in the Illinois Democratic primary in March 1986, the defense said.