Beef plant blues: Who is next in hot seat?
So far, six men have pleaded guilty to integrity-based crimes in connection with the failed Mississippi Beef Processors Inc. plant – and all of them were civilians. More to the point, none of them yet has been a public official.
While Musgrove has been tarred with the beef plant scandal based solely on the campaign contributions, he has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
There are other public officials who have received campaign contributions from beef plant-related actors. There are other public officials who have done business with some of those actors.
In the minds of many Mississippians, the question comes down to whether the beef plant was an economic development effort gone terribly wrong or was there wrongdoing on the part of a public official somewhere up and down the line?
Greenlee’s press release intrigue will intensify public and media speculation that there is indeed a public official still in the crosshairs of the beef plant probe – until the cows come home.
Sid Salter
Clarion Ledger
8/17/8
Magnolia Tribune
