With indictment, Cantrell joins Louisiana's notorious political history
Why it matters: Cantrell becomes part of a notorious history of Louisiana politicians who have faced criminal charges from their time in office, which has long lent the state an unenviable reputation.
Between the lines: Also the first Black female mayor of New Orleans, Cantrell has long said she has faced more intense scrutiny than others who have held the role.
As New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow wrote last year during a failed effort to recall Cantrell, the mayor "has faced constant accusations of impropriety" as she's been "subject to a kind of sexism specific to Black women: misogynoir, as it's called."
Worth noting: Cantrell's attorney told Axios around 1:30pm Friday that he had not received a copy of the indictment yet. He did not make any further comments.
Catch up quick: Dozens of Louisiana politicians have faced criminal charges.
Here are three standouts.
Former Rep. William Jefferson
Jefferson faced corruption charges after the FBI filmed him taking a $100,000 cash bribe with the goal of paying off an African official, the FBI says.
Days later, the FBI infamously found $90,000 stashed in his freezer.
He was convicted of bribery, racketeering and money laundering.
Former Gov. Edwin Edwards
The colorful Cajun was so popular with voters that he was elected governor four times from the 1970s through the early 1990s, though he faced multiple federal indictments during his third term.
But he wouldn't be convicted until May 2000, when he was found guilty of taking bribes over riverboat casino licenses in his fourth term.
Edwards spent eight years in a federal prison before launching a final unsuccessful campaign for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014.
Former Mayor C. Ray Nagin
Nagin, who led New Orleans during and immediately after Hurricane Katrina, was the city's first mayor convicted of corruption, according to WWL.
Nagin, who was charged after leaving office, was found guilty of 20 counts of wire fraud, bribery and tax evasion after prosecutors said he took bribes while in office.
He was sentenced to serve 10 years and was released early when officials sought to decrease prison populations in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Hours before interviewing Patel and Bondi, Hannity bragged he wouldn't ask about Epstein. He stayed true to his word
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Yahoo
an hour ago
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POLITICAL ROUNDUP: Another distraction or was there interference in 2016 election?
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Susan Feller said all roads lead to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'This is supported by cold, hard, indisputable facts. What the studies did not find, however, is that Trump personally colluded with the Russians. People around him did,' Feller said. Darrel Ratliff 'absolutely agrees' there was Russian interference. 'But this investigation will come up with whatever they want it to come up with,' Ratliff said. Eric Swanson reminded commenters on the forum that multiple investigations have found that Russia interfered in the 2016 election with the goal of helping Trump's campaign and damaging Clinton's. Swanson said U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's claim about the Obama administration defies common sense. 'If there were evidence of such a conspiracy, why did four investigations fail to uncover it?' Swanson said. 'If the investigation proves that there was a conspiracy, then the perpetrators should be held accountable.' 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The answer that got the most votes was, 'Barack Obama and his allies,' with 36.5%; 31.1% answered, 'Putin and Trump and their allies;' 9.5% voted 'Vladimir Putin only;' and 9.5% voted, 'no one; there was no meddling.' Solve the daily Crossword
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
Today's NYT Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for Aug. 17 #1520
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