November 28, 2007
Read More: Leadership

Lott's brother-in-law Scruggs indicted on bribery charges

Sen. Trent Lott's brother-in-law, Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, a high-profile trial lawyer best known for suing Big Tobacco and insurance companies, has been indicted on bribery charges.

Several media outlets are reporting the news about Scruggs, who has been accused of trying to bribe a Mississippi judge. Scruggs is perhaps best known for suing tobacco companies in multibillion-dollar lawsuits in the late 1990s. But he also acted as Lott's lawyer, as well as the attorney for many Mississippi homeowners, in a successful lawsuit against State Farm Insurance when the firm denied thousands of claims in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Scruggs is perhaps the most powerful attorney in Mississippi but is well-known in Washington for his involvement in tobacco and asbestos litigation over the years.

The Associated Press and Mississippi television stations are reporting the story, as well as The Huffington Post. Here's a link to the 13-page indictment, which describes the bribery scheme.

Lott, the Senate Republican whip who surprised many on Capitol Hill when he announced his planned retirement from the Senate on Monday, has not been named in the indictment and has not been accused of any wrongdoing. His office was not commenting on the case late Wednesday.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/ ... arges.html

BETWEEN THIS AND HIS NEW LOBBYING BUSINESS ON K ST IN D.C., NO WONDER HE IS LEAVING THE SENATE.