Melton’s discussion of legal woes may violate gag order

The Clarion-Ledger, 12/17/8

Mayor Frank Melton talked about his legal troubles at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting in what could be a violation of a federal gag order.

Melton goes on trial Jan. 5 on federal civil-rights charges related to a 2006 police-style raid on a Ridgeway Street duplex. After repeated statements about the incident, including a news conference, U.S. District Judge Dan Jordan in October barred Melton and others involved in the case from speaking about it publicly.

“I am the mayor of this city 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Melton said Tuesday night. “Anything I do falls within my purview of being mayor.”

The mayor mentioned the gag order before cutting himself off.