Right now, the ongoing Beef Plant scandal is burning up the blogosphere. Former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and the Democratic Governors Association took a total of $95,000, so says the federal prosecutors, from the Facility Group and their executives in 2003 when the company was overseeing the construction and start up of the Mississippi Beef Processors plant, which tanked and left the taxpayers holding the bag. In pleading guilty, Moultrie called the campaign contributions a “gratuity” intended to gain future influence with Musgrove.
The Clarion-Ledger broke this story back in 2005 and documented the Musgrove contributions.
Musgrove hasn’t been charged with any wrongdoing, but it’s a case of lying down with dogs and getting up with fleas. The fact that Musgrove apparently active pursued contributions from CEO Robert Moultrie and the Facility Group stinks given previous revelations that the company had serious billing irregulaties [sic] with the state over the beef plant.
But if the other Facility Group execs plead guilty and a trial is ultimately avoided, Musgrove won’t have to testify in their cases.
Now, the question simply become whether the feds can make a case against Musgrove? Was their [sic] a quid pro quo? So far, the feds have treated Musgrove gingerly in the case.
Sid Salter Blog
8/13/8
Magnolia Tribune
