Jury deliberates ex-New Orleans mayor bribery case
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is awaiting a verdict in his federal corruption trial.
Jurors began deliberations at about 1:30 p.m. Monday. There was no indication when they might reach a verdict in the case, which involves 21 criminal counts.
In closing arguments, prosecutors said testimony and evidence shows Nagin was "on the take" during his two terms. They said the crimes began in his first term and continued even after the catastrophic flooding accomopanying Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Nagin had no comment as he left the courthouse at lunchtime. His lawyer re-iterated what he told the jury in closing arguments: that key prosecution witnesses' credibility is in question because of deals they made with prosecutors.
