Jackson Free Press

District attorney candidate Robert Smith held a press conference today—not inviting the Jackson Free Press—to respond to Freddie Patton, a father he features in a campaign ad blaming D.A. Faye Peterson for not prosecuting the drunk driver who killed his baby daughter. Patton said yesterday that the Smith campaign brought him to Jackson from his home in Chicago and immediately put him on a TV set to do the ad. However, he said he soon learned that the Smith campaign lied to him about the role Peterson could have played—when, in fact, she was never given a case file to prosecute. Thus, he publicly retracted his endorsement, as the JFP reported yesterday.

Smith fired back today, according to WLBT, accusing Patton of lying because, he said, attorney Precious Martin is a Peterson supporter who threatened to sue Patton if he didn't recant. Patton and Martin—who is already Patton's attorney—both tell the JFP this afternoon that Smith is lying about this, too.

"That's a blatant lie," said Patton, of Smith's accusation, in a phone interview this afternoon. "Martin hadn't said nothing to me to make me do this. I went down there because I figured out what I had done and went down to rectify that myself because I was putting a lady's job in jeopardy."

Martin was equally livid.

"You saw (Patton's) demeanor at the press conference. Did he look coerced to you? The fact of the matter is that guy has been my client. I represent that man in the civil lawsuit involving the death of his daughter, and for any other lawyer to talk to him about his case without my permission is unethical," Martin said.

"That man voluntarily drove down from Chicago. I didn't even give him gas money. Not one nickel. He came down to straighten the record out."

Smith is fighting incumbent Faye Peterson in a runoff today to be the county's next district attorney. Polls close at 7 p.m.

Previous Commentsshow

Ouch! To quote a city council candidate from years ago, "Who can stop this madness"?

xxgreg

Aug 28 2007

Tougaloo graduates fighting -Smith and Martin. It's not right. He, he. Hopefully, justice and righteousness will prevail tonight. Lying is a terrible thing. Reminds me too much of Melton and republicans, which I though had cornered the market on that skill or disease.

Ray Carter

Aug 28 2007

Ray, not all Republicans lie.

DonnaLadd

Aug 28 2007

Tougaloo graduates fighting -Smith and Martin. It's not right. He, he. You beat me to it, Ray. Mother Eagle sho' didn't stir this nest. Snicker.

LatashaWillis

Aug 28 2007

I know Donna. I'll do better in the future. Even Melton tells the truth occasionally, so I'm told. I'll shorten my brush.

Ray Carter

Aug 28 2007

Yeah Ray. I could've sworn Melton and Smith were democrats.

Cliff Cargill

Aug 28 2007

Oddly, WLBT just did a piece in which Bert Case paraphrased Patton (not using actual quotes from him) and then put Smith on the camera saying the cynical thing about the other side playing politics with this little girl. (Snort.) But why didn't they then include a response from Martin and/or Patton? Why didn't they include that Martin was *already* Patton's attorney -- which blasts holes in Smith's argument right there? In other words, why didn't they complete this story. As it is, they have a candidate accusing a prominent attorney and his client of outright lying, and of threats. It's hard to imagine a media outlet not seeking a response to that. It's not like Precious wasn't returning calls, as we here well know.

DonnaLadd

Aug 28 2007

LBT just ran the same story, with Smith's accusations, but no response. And no explanation that Martin is, in fact, Patton's attorney. So Martin threatened to sue his own client? Right.

DonnaLadd

Aug 28 2007

It sure will be funny if Faye wins. Imagine alll the high pitched whining coming from the northern part of Hinds County.

Cliff Cargill

Aug 28 2007

And, the argument that she was only doing this for "political reasons" is just stupid. Taking on a mayor who was very well liked at the time wouldn't have helped her at the polls. And, she knew she was running for DA again. She didn't do it because of politics; she did did it in spite of politics. She earned my respect, and that's why I voted for her.

Cliff Cargill

Aug 28 2007

And, the argument that she was only doing this for "political reasons" is just stupid You're right. It's always been counter-intelligent, to put it kindly, as has the argument that Melton shouldn't have been indicted so quickly. She didn't do it because of politics; she did did it in spite of politics. She earned my respect, and that's why I voted for her. Right, it showed strength and that she wasn't a puppet for Melton, Danks, Peters or anyone else. They clearly didn't like that, though. We'll see. Clock is ticking. Run vote if you haven't, all. This is one of the most important elections I ever remember voting in.

DonnaLadd

Aug 28 2007