Mr. Hood’s close ties to these characters nonetheless raise questions about his prosecutorial judgment on issues that go well beyond State Farm. The AG was asked recently why his office wasn’t prosecuting the alleged bribers (including lawyer Joey Langston, who has pleaded guilty in a separate bribery case). He admitted that his connections to the accused meant that going after them would be “like prosecuting a relative.” Those ties include lucrative contracts that he’s awarded to those lawyers, who in turn have lavished him with campaign donations.
Meanwhile, the feds have also released the Balducci wiretaps that led to the original bribery indictments. The transcripts are a rich insight into the ethics of the trial bar, and we’ve published excerpts. Readers can find more at the Mississippi blog magnoliatribune.com.
Wall Street Journal
3/5/8
Magnolia Tribune
