OHIO STATE HOUSE SPEAKER ARRESTED

  The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio announced today that Larry Householder, the Speaker of the Ohio State House of Representatives, has been charged along with four others with helping to pass a nuclear bailout bill in exchange for nearly $61 million in bribes.  The bill added a surcharge for energy consumers to help raise $150 to bail out two unprofitable nuclear plants.  This is reportedly the largest bribery case in Ohio history.

As a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Georgia, I once prosecuted Georgia's former Senate Majority leader in a fraud and public corruption case.  So, I know how tough such complex criminal cases can be!

Of course, all defendants are entitled to a presumption of innocence unless and until convicted beyond a reasonable doubt.

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin Indicted on Bribery and Kickback Charges

[Photo of Former Mayor Ray Nagin from wikipedia]

Did you hear the news? According to various news reports, former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was reportedly indicted today by a federal grand jury for allegedly using his former office for private gain. 

According to the reports, the federal charges include, among other things, $160,000 in bribes to Nagin and truckloads of granite for his private business in exchange for allegedly giving millions of dollars in city contracts -- post Hurricane Katrina -- to certain "preferred" businessmen. 

As a former federal prosecutor, and, currently, as an Augusta, GA criminal defense lawyer, I have seen this type of "mutual back-scratching" deal occur over and over. The names may change, but the white collar crimes stay the same!

Of course, an indictment is not evidence and the former mayor will be entitled to his day in court. It will be interesting to see what happens! What do you think?