Investigation in Judicial Bribery Scandal Continues

After the indictment of Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter on Thusday and the sentencing of former State Auditor Steven Patterson and disbarred New Albany lawyer Timothy Balducci on Friday – the question is what’s next in the state’s ongoing judicial bribery scandal. MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports from Oxford.

Mr. Balducci and Mr. Patterson won’t go until March 23rd and 25th respectively. In Patterson’s case that’s exactly two days after the federal grand jury convenes next. Only a grand jury can decide on indictments and according to the prosecution both men’s testimony is crucial.

. Independent Oxford lawyer Tom Freeland has been following the case closely.
“It’s an ongoing investigation. They’re not done. They don’t bring witnesses before the grand jury unless they’re investigating new leads,” reasons independent Oxford lawyer Tom Freeland.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bob Norman confirmed that their testimony was not just needed for the Scruggs II case, involving Judge DeLaughter, but also for a possible third case. But "there are no sealed indictments in this case at this time,” he added.

Senior U.S. District Judge Neal Biggers had told Patterson in court on Friday that “as far as I understood you’ve not been charged yet in the other case. So, I’m sentencing you today only for this case," referring to Scruggs II and I respectively. I asked prosecutor Norman if either Patterson or Balducci were in danger of another indictment:

“You know, we usually don’t comment on that. But when it goes this way I think I probably can comment on that: Mr. Patterson is not on the radar screen for anything else, Norman said. [Sandra: And neither is Mr. Balducci?] “No,” Norman added.

Norman refused to comment about a possible investigation of former Senator Trent Lott or political operative P.L. Blake, who’s been mentioned in court documents but not charged. So, who else could be under investigation? Again lawyer Freeland:

“I’d be very interested in seeing if a circuit court case in Hinds County, called Eaton versus Frisbie becomes part of the investigation. But that’s just a guess on my part," Freeland said. It’s a very complex case that involves allegations of Ed Peters and Judge DeLaughter having contact. And a very similar fact pattern; only a different group of lawyers for the plaintiff. And it’ll be interesting to see if the investigation expands beyond cases involving Dickie Scruggs.”

And so the judicial bribery scandal continues.