Lott on Bribery Probe: I'm A Witness, Not A Target

[babylonsister]

Exclusive: Lott says he's a witness, not target, in federal investigation
By ANITA LEE


Former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott told the Sun Herald on Monday that federal investigators have assured him he is not a target of a judicial bribery investigation involving his brother-in-law, prominent Mississippi attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs.

Lott said FBI agents did interview him earlier this year, but only as a potential witness.

The Justice Department is investigating whether Scruggs tried to land a lifetime appointment to the federal bench for Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Bobby DeLaughter. Scruggs recommended to Lott that he appoint DeLaughter as a U.S. District Court judge, according to an attorney who has pleaded guilty in the case. In exchange, New Albany attorney Joey Langston said, DeLaughter was expected to rule in Scruggs' favor in a Hinds County lawsuit filed against him by another attorney over legal fees.

"I may be called as a witness," Lott said, "but I've been assured that I'm not under investigation, and rightly so because nothing was done to justify that."

Lott said he did talk to DeLaughter about the opening on the bench in early 2006. Because he is a potential government witness, Lott said, he could not offer details about what prompted him to call DeLaughter. But he said that, as a senator, he did receive numerous recommendations for judicial appointments and more than one person suggested DeLaughter, who has denied any wrongdoing in the judicial bribery case.

more...

http://www.sunherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/392351.html

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. I'm not a bank robber - I'm a witness -

I saw it all from the driver's seat of the getaway car!

[babylonsister]

2. No joke. Lott protests too much! nt

[Javaman]

3. "Let me make this clear; I'm not a bankrobber and I have never been a bankrobber!" nt