Today, Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter appeared for a 5-count indictment against him involving trading influence, wire fraud and obstruction of justice. Though the bribery and mail fraud charges were pretty predictable based on what came out in the Scruggs information, the obstruction charge (count 5 in the latest indictment) is certainly new information.
It states, in part . . .
. . . while being interviewed by FBI agents in connection with an official federal corruption investigation and grand jury proceeding, he stated that he “never spoke to Ed Peters regarding . . . ” substantive issues related to the case of Wilson v. Scruggs, at a time when said case was pending in court, when in truth and fact he had corruptly discussed with Ed Peters substantive issues in the Wilson v. Scruggs case on numerous occasions and knew Peters was secretly acting on behalf of Scruggs’ lawyers in an attempt to gain favorable rulings for Scruggs, at a time when Peters was not counsel of record . . .
.
It’s never the crime. It’s the coverup.
This would also seem indictate that Ed Peters will not be indicted and is cooperating fully with investigators.
Here are the relevant filings.
Case was sealed on January 6, 2009
Scruggs plea to information
Updated indictment against DeLaughter
Where the feds go from here is uncertain. Could this be the end or are there more indictments potentially pending? If the DeLaughter case does go all the way to trial on April 6, 2009, it is likely that we will learn much more.
Magnolia Tribune
