Jackson Free Press

The Jackson Free Press has gotten reports over the last week that people high up in the Melton administration are appearing before a federal grand jury this week to testify about his actions. Sources tell us that City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly Evans was scheduled to appear yesterday, and The Clarion-Ledger reported today that Police Chief Shirlene Anderson appeared yesterday. Sources have said for months that the FBI is probing a variety of actions by Melton—from the Ridgeway duplex demolition to possibly illegal searches to reports of influence over the awarding of public contracts.

See the JFP's Melton blog/archive for background and the original breaking stories on these topics.

Previous Commentsshow

Rumors are flying, but the best word I have so far is that the grand jury has been meeting all week, and the chief, O'Reilly-Evans and at least four others have testified so far.

DonnaLadd

Oct 11 2007

I hate to reply on conjecture and rumor but are the rumors in our favor? :)

Puck

Oct 11 2007

*rely - I really need to spell check before I get all giddy next time.

Puck

Oct 11 2007

I doubt they will tell the truth... Here's a little something to keep Melton's mind off the FBI probe.

pikersam

Oct 11 2007

How does a deaf-mute testify before a federal grand jury? www.nrams.com

Cliff Cargill

Oct 11 2007

i hope they are in our favor, indict frank please and this time he needs to resign or be forced to.

NewJackson

Oct 11 2007

I heard the 'rumor' on Monday that a Federal Grand Jury had convened. Now the press and City employees, plus the Mayor, are confirming. So, is it in our favor? I dare not get my hopes up too far, but just the fact that they have convened is important to me. I've always heard that the Feds don't make a move until they have someone pretty well able to be convicted. This also means to me that the U.S.Attorney though he had enough to bring to a Grand Jury.

ChrisCavanaugh

Oct 11 2007

Frank is way ahead of the Federal Government. His boys have been promoted timely and hamdsomely to silence and Frank can hire any lawyers he wants. Frank walks even if indicted. Sarah, Shirlene and other minions don't know enough to hurt Frank. Franks rides again.

Ray Carter

Oct 11 2007

True, chris. The Feds only stepped in to Michael Vick's dog fighting ring because it was a slam dunk. Same thing with Scooter Libby. Here's a good piece on Federal Grand Juries from NPR from 2005.

pikersam

Oct 11 2007

IF you think you are beaten, you are; IF you think you dare not, you don't. IF you would like to WIN but, think you can't; It's almost a cinch, YOU WON'T! Life's battle's don't always go, To the wicked or evil man; And SOONER or LATER the man who wins, IS THE ONE WHO THINKS HE CAN. With slight alterations in the poem, "IF," we are left with the one thing that we must keep in order to reclaim our CITY and that is faith and the belief that collectively we can be successful in riding our City of this troubled man called melton. We have had enough "HOPE," besides, this is a "do-nothing" word. We can not continue to be frank, MS. We must be frank and sincere about getting his hind part out.

justjess

Oct 11 2007

Justjess, my big brothers made me learn this poem when I pledged a fraternity. I still try to live by this creed.

Ray Carter

Oct 11 2007

Here's a little something to keep Melton's mind off the FBI probe. Pike, that's one kind of probe that I don't want to deal with any time soon. LOL Anyway, thanks for the NPR link. I learned a lot from it.

LatashaWillis

Oct 11 2007

Curious, any word on this?

Puck

Nov 13 2007

Nothing official.

DonnaLadd

Nov 13 2007

What is the status of the "FBI INVESTIGATION?"

justjess

Feb 8 2008

Freed at last. Thank God Almighty they didn't find anything, and Frank is free at last. Now he can get back to work at taking Jackson where we haven't been before.

Ray Carter

Feb 8 2008

Ray Carter, In the famous words of Buckwheat, OOOTAY!!!!!!!!!!

justjess

Feb 8 2008

My guess is that we won't hear a peep until the investigation is complete.

LatashaWillis

Feb 8 2008

Elmer Melton has been verwy, verwy quiet lately. In fact, a little too quiet. That's a good thing, if you ask me.

golden eagle '97

Feb 8 2008

Enjoy it while it lasts, dude.

LatashaWillis

Feb 8 2008