Firing the only punishment from AG Hood for Langston
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood said Monday that he is disappointed in one of his largest campaign contributors, an attorney hired twice by him to represent the State of Mississippi in court, though he won’t prosecute him.
Hood said Joey Langston of The Langston Law Firm has been taken off the State’s case against Eli Lilly, the maker of the anti-psychotic prescription drug Zyprexa. Langston pleaded guilty last week to attempting to bribe a state judge presiding over an attorneys fees dispute involving also-indicted trial lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs.
Hood said it will be up to the proper District Attorneys to prosecute Langston.
“Since the matter is being handled by the federal government, it would be inappropriate for me to comment any further until all the facts are known,” Hood said.
“Due to Mr. Langston’s past representation of this office, it could create an appearance of impropriety for our office to participate in a potential state prosecution of this case. It will be up to the appropriate District Attorney(s) to handle any potential state case(s). The resources of my office will be available to them.”
Legal Newsline
1/14/8
Magnolia Tribune
