MITCHELL: Guilt not Epps’ alone

CHARLIE MITCHELL: Epps may do some time, but guilt is not his alone

Mississippians will be able to tell whether the criminal indictment faced by Christopher Epps means anything by how the 2015 edition of the Mississippi Legislature reacts.

A smattering of tsk-tsking over what appears to be a provable years-long practice and pattern of bribery and extortion at the pinnacle of state prison operations will mean very little.

If, however, the Legislature moves decisively to add complete transparency to prison finances — does away with no-bid contracts — then we’ll know lawmakers seriously want to end such abysmal waste of public money.

Gov. Phil Bryant immediately ordered a top-down review.

Good start, but not enough.

Sunherald
11/17/14