With the recent sentencing of Richard “Dickie” Scruggs on mail fraud charges, there was great speculation as to the fate of Mississippi Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter, who was the alleged recipient of a bribe. The speculation is now over with the indictment of the judge with conspiracy, mail fraud and obstruction. The bribery involved a promise to help secure a federal judgeship with the help of Senator Trent Lott (R., Miss.).
Scruggs, who is the brother-in-law of Trent Lott and a famous anti-tobacco attorney, was already serving five years on a prior case.
DeLaughter presided over a case in which among Scruggs and other lawyers were sparing over millions of dollars in fees from asbestos litigation. Scruggs admitted that he tried to influence DeLaughter to rule in his favor by promising his help in securing a federal judgeship. Ultimately, Lott talked to DeLaughter but decided to recommend someone else for the job.
Scruggs’ admission of his role added two years to the five year sentence that he received for conspiring to bribe the court in another case.
The indictment alleges that from August 2005 to August 2006, DeLaughter “secretly and corruptly communicated with the Scruggs legal team through Ed Peters, affording them a unique and valuable opportunity to foresee and attempt to influence his rulings.”
Lott features prominently in the indictment:
On or about March 29, 2006, in order to exploit Judge DeLaughter’s aspirations to become a federal judge, Richard F. “Dickie” Scruggs caused his brother-in-law, then a United States Senator from Mississippi, to offer Judge DeLaughter consideration for appointment to a federal judgeship then open in the Southern District of Mississippi.
For a copy of the indictment, click here.
For the full story, click here.
Was he proved guilty?
Caveman~ Our Laws are based on Innocent until Proven Guilty and the Right to Council. Now I do realize that this doesn’t always hold true but the premise still stands!
Innocent until proven Guilty? What fucking planet do you live on???? This is America. You’re guilty unless you have the resources (a lot of cash) buy your innocence.
Funny thing last time I looked One was Innocent until proven Guilty or has The Rule of Law changed?
Thanks for the troll spam cleaning!
mmmmmmmm….shiny
Here, trolls.
Suck on this.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/13/AR2009021303288.html?hpid=topnews
I particularly liked this part:
Unlike the rules issued by the White House, the limits in the stimulus bill would apply to top executives and the highest-paid employees at all 359 banks that have already received government aid.
“This is a big deal. This is a problem,” said Scott Talbott, chief lobbyist for the largest financial services firms. “It undermines the current incentive structure.”
Talbott said banking executives expected certain restrictions would be applied to them but are concerned that some of the most highly paid employees, such as top traders, who bring in hefty sums of money for the company, would flee to hedge funds or foreign banks that have not accepted U.S. government funds.
___
Awwww, the thieves who broke the banks might run away if we don’t give them what they want. Boo hoo. roflmao.
On behalf of We the People, I’d just like to say SCREW YOU AND THE BENTLEY YOU RODE IN ON! Insert an image of me giving you guys the finger here. I’m using both hands. I’m thinking about taking off my socks too.
Why don’t you assholes go ruin someone else’s economy. Like China. They have a REALLY good method of dealing with criminal executives and employees like you. It’s called a “bullet to the head”. That argument that you need the ridiculous money to pay for talent? Who the Hell do you think you are fooling with THAT nonsense? Isn’t that what was happening when you current lot of asshats got hired? I thought you WERE supposed to be the talent. Well, if crashing the economic car and stealing everything not nailed down is a talent, you’ve got it! Other than that, you’re useless . . . except as parasites and social pariahs. There are literally thousands of unemployed Americans who could do your job better and more ethically than you pricks do. They are unemployed and homeless because of YOUR crimes and malfeasance not to mention staggering greed. And they are just waiting to replace you at or below the VERY generous limits imposed by the bill. It certainly doesn’t look like your indispensable, does it?
You can’t live on 500K? Tough shit, you greedy toads. Most Americans never see a pay day like that. Be thankful we aren’t rounding you up and putting you in a Supermax. But hey! It’s still early in the year. There’s hope for you boys to be in prison orange yet. BTW, how are those FBI investigations that are getting underway treating you? Making you pucker a little? I certainly hope so. I hear the guys on D block are looking for love.
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. Aim for the head. Might knock some sense into you venal bastards, but I kinda doubt it. And take your lapdog lobbyist graft merchant scumbag with you. To quote my good friend seamus, “Good night, and go fuck yourself.”
Is it my imagination or is the troll quality dropping rapidly?
Sorry Bron,
Can’t comment on that. Haven’t seen the post you refer to.
This is one dirty judge. It is a shame that our old friend, Trent Lott was not named in the indictment. That kind of news would have really made my day. I would love to see the minutes or notes from the meeting that Lott had with the Judge/Defendant. At least now the judge will get a first hand look at a Federal Judge.
on another note why are all southern politicians Billy, Bobby, Jimmy, etc.?
Buddha:
has Dan been reading your work? A couple of lines look suspiciously like Buddhaese.
Troll bots.
Offtopic.
Mike S. & Gyges,
I couldn’t sleep last night so I read a book, one you guys might like.
“The Prefect” by Alastair Reynolds
Great space opera with a definite relevant thread about the value of democracy over the value of authoritarianism.
Now we know why Lott retired when he did.
I am pleased to observe that the pendulum of justice might be swinging back to the concept represented by the statuesque Themis, blindfolded Goddess of Justice.