Listen Live
Stone Soul Vendor Graphics
99.3-105.7 Kiss FM
CLOSE

Ray Nagin, the former mayor of New Orleans, is heading to federal prison for 10 years. A jury concluded that Nagin took bribes, kickbacks and turned his back on the Black citizens of New Orleans when they needed him most: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

He deserves the punishment. In all, Nagin was found guilty of 20 counts of felony crimes.

During his trial, Nagin never accepted responsibility for his actions. He showed absolutely no remorse, held his ground, and remained arrogant and unrepentant until the bitter end. Nagin never acknowledged guilt but told the court, “I trust God is going to work all this out.”

Really? What exactly is there to work out?

Prosecutors said Nagin lied on the witness stand 22 times and at one point, he even refused to acknowledge his own signature on paperwork prosecutors showed on a video screen in the courtroom.

“These repeated violations, at the expense of the citizens of New Orleans in a time when honest leadership was needed most, do not deserve leniency,” wrote Matthew M. Coman, an assistant United States attorney. Nagin will have plenty of time to think about the behavior that landed him in federal prison.

COMMENTARY: Black Politicians – Corrupt Or Unjustly Targeted?  was originally published on blackamericaweb.com

1 2Next page »