The Mike Hurst for Attorney General campaign issued the following statement:
Democrat Jim Hood attempts cover-up of interference in corruption investigation
His only witness says, ‘I don’t know anything about it’
JACKSON, MISS (SEPTEMBER 25, 2015) –Yesterday, Simpson County Sheriff Ken Lewis described to the press his work to stop corrupt activity by a police chief in his county. After taking information to Jim Hood’s office, details of his investigation were leaked back to the police chief who warned the Sheriff he had “friends in high places.” Sheriff Lewis discusses this incident in a new ad by the Mike Hurst for Attorney General campaign.
Today, Democrat Attorney General Jim Hood’s campaign attempted to dismiss this incident with a statement from a person without knowledge of it who said he didn’t know anything about it.
“I hope this isn’t how Jim Hood practices law. His star witness basically said, ‘I don’t know anything about it,’” said Hurst campaign manager D.J. Eckert. “And how would he? The Attorney General’s Office would not be bragging to the Auditor’s Office how they tipped off the suspect, and the FBI doesn’t gossip. As Jim Hood has said, the FBI asked the Attorney General Hood’s Office to discontinue its involvement. We now know why – because Jim Hood’s office leaked evidence and alerted a criminal target in a high-profile public corruption case. The facts are clear.”
Yesterday, Jim Hood’s campaign released an internal public integrity division report from the Office of Attorney General dated over five years ago that supports the timeline Sheriff Lewis provided. The report details that on July 8, 2010, the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office provided information to the Attorney General’s Office about the corrupt police chief’s criminal actions.
Shortly thereafter, the chief was tipped off to the investigation and then warned the Sheriff he had ‘friends in high places,’ reciting to the Sheriff some of the same information the Sheriff had provided to Jim Hood’s office.
The indictment of the corrupt police chief, returned by a Federal Grand Jury over two years ago, makes it clear that the police chief learned about the investigation, on or around July 26, after which the police chief began a cover-up scheme (see paragraphs 20-21 of the indictment here: Link).
Finally, the internal report from the Attorney General’s Office given to the press by Jim Hood’s campaign shows that only after the date on which the police chief was tipped off and began attempting to cover up his scheme did the FBI, on August 19, 2010, inform the Attorney General’s Office that the FBI was investigating and would be presenting the case for federal prosecution.
This proves that the allegation was not made up for a campaign. As illustrated from the indictment, these were facts found and returned by a Federal Grand Jury over two years ago.
“It is sad when our Democrat Attorney General uses a former employee of the Auditor’s Office who never worked directly with me, the lead prosecutor on the case, to make allegations that he never heard anything. As demonstrated by his statement, not everyone was privy to all of the sensitive evidence in the case that I, the FBI, and the Federal Grand Jury possessed, as illustrated by the indictment. The bottom line is we need a leader in the Office of Attorney General who will be a full time prosecutor, who will be in the office everyday, and who will ensure this type of activity doesn’t happen again in our state. If allegations come forward like this when I am Attorney General, I will investigate the leak, not insult the whistle-blower,” said Mike Hurst, Republican Candidate for Mississippi Attorney General.
Hurst continued, “The account of Sheriff Lewis is consistent with my knowledge of this case as I worked with the FBI to prosecute this corrupt police chief, and as reflected by the facts in the indictment returned by a Federal Grand Jury.”
Sheriff Lewis said, “I am a sworn officer of the law who discovered a police chief in my county was corrupt and harming citizens. When I went to the Attorney General’s Office for help, not only did they not help, but they actively interfered in my investigation. Now they want to call me a liar? That’s despicable, and Jim Hood should not only apologize but also get his office and his campaign under control. I’m sure he is embarrassed by their behavior. I would be, too. But the appropriate thing to do is fix the problem, not attempt a cover-up.”
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22 comments:
You scratch my back & I'll hand over info on investigations. But, don't tell anyone cause I gotta run for reelection. Meanwhile, let's get back to the BIG, Google investigation folks.
So we don't hear about this until a political campaign is underway.
Why do I think this is a pile of crap?
Kenneth Lewis is a chinless idiot. Why didn't he bring this to light when it happened? I'm not voting for Little Jimmy, but this sure wasn't the reason why.
Whether you like Hood or not, he should be running HIS office in Jackson, MS. If Hood wants to live each day in Houston, don't run for MS AG. Second, Hood loves riding the fence. If you are a statewide democrat in MS and receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from DAGA, all in all, you support a democratic/liberal agenda. Its great that Hood has put "perverts" in prison... thats his job! IMHO,the AGS race will come down to:
1.) Can Hurst work a strong grassroots campaign and defeat Hood's good-ole boy system.
2.) Voter Turnout. Will Initiative 42 drive voter turnout for the dems? and lift Hood over Hurst
3.) Can Hurst garner an endorsement from some reputable DAs/ Sheriffs?
Since, Austin Barbour is free, Hurst should consider calling in a favor or two... And hire Morgan Baldwin to run his North MS Operations.
If Hurst knew at the time he was prosecuting the case that Hood covered something up...why didn't Hurst indict Hood?
Is it because this is BS? Yes.
@2:31 p.m. You hit the nail on the head. If there was a leak, why didn't Hurst and Feds investigate to determine the identity of the leaker. To now try to claim that the AG's office or Hood leaked information without anything to substantiate it is reckless and irresponsible by Hurst.
Let's have a debate in Hickory or Houston? The fact is that the majority of Mississippi voters don't care about this race. Personally, I am ready for a new AG and I hope the majority of Mississippi voters will agree.
4:15's logic confuses me. While he knows the majority of Mississippi voters don't give a flip about this race, he hopes they will agree we need a change. They won't if they don't.
Has Barlow even been to jail yet? Last year he was managing that Miles Flatt band that plays that honky Tonk scene around south Jackson
Why hasn't Hurst nailed Hood on working a very large state office from Houston. I think this would resonate with the average voter much better than some vague accusation about a leak. It smacks of privilege and arrogance, and collecting a paycheck for nothing. Personally, I don't know how he is allowed by state law to do this. If he wants to be attorney general, come to the office and do your job. Gee
@9:09. The Hurst campaign is probably working on that ad right now. Does he have staff members on the payroll in Houston? 1 to turn on in his Iphone and Ipad each day...
I'm no Hood fan, but I don't want a nut job in that post.
I'm thinking I'll go with the devil I know instead of a cheap politico.
9:09 - most Mississippians are not in Jackson, and can sympathize with someone who "sticks to his roots."
Many are also aware that telephones and internet are things that facilitate working from home, as it were.
And some Mississippians may suspect that the AG's office functions better with an absentee AG.
10:45, you're a Hood fan if you don't want his opponent to win. The devil you know is still the devil.
Hurst is the usual mild challenger the republicans throw up and then neglect. I suspect that Hurst has polls showing him far behind and his campaign is now pulling out the desperation material. If this alleged leak, based on the word of one rural, ill-trained and voted out sheriff hoping for an investigator's job from Hurst, is all he's got other than Hood running the AG office over the phone, by skype, email, etc., then this is a lost cause for Hurst. Not many people are going to take this leak allegation seriously since no action was taken against anyone in Hood's office.
By the way, I consider myself a republican. I'll vote for Hood.
Hurst has no substance.
He went to law school...lobbied in DC.....worked for a big firm....moved to Jackson just to work as an AUSA ONLY so he could then run for AG.
What is the compelling story behind this guy? There is none.
He is a politician who is a very partisan republican and he ASSUMES that tying his campaign signs to Phil's will garner him all of Phil's votes.
He is going to see how dead wrong he is and he will wind up in a pile just like the other hallow suits did before.
One day the republicans might put up a qualified sure enough law dog to get this seat...but until then.....looks like it will be Hood's to lose.
At 3:02-- would being a partisan republican help him in Mississippi?
3:02 A.) I guess the Fed. Govt. is handing out AUSA jobs??? B.) If Hood had a dem to post a sign next to he would, I guess he could put his signs next to Joce Pritchett's? C.) What is compelling about Hood's story?
".....Y'all see that stuff on Jackson Jambalaya? Feel free to post an anonymous comment. See y'all Friday. J.H."
6:12 PM
Hood has extracted literally billions from corporations who would have gone untouched by Hurst and his ilk.
So, money for the state for corporate wrongdoing is a powerful story.
Also, Hood has actually been enforcing laws to help seniors and vulnerable adults as well as taking child predators off the streets.
He was also a DA where he tried all manner of cases for 5 counties for many years before he ran and won the AG position.
He is an actual Mississippian who cares for Mississippians...and he has actually shown his service.
Republican AGs settled with BP too. Hood has enforced the laws! Awesome, it's his job. He was a DA for eight years/Hurst was an AUSA from 2006 until 2015.
Hurst isn't an actual Mississippian? Each politician has baggage; but, Mike Hurst has an impressive resume', he has a a done a good job as an AUSA, and we know where he stands!
Let's talk about Hood and his ilk? Scruggs, DAGA, Langston
Until we can get away from the idea that our attorney general must be a life-long career prosecutor we'll continue to have candidates like Hood and Hurst.
Prosecuting is one part of the AG's job. You can hire good prosecutors.
Every other state employee must go to the office. But not Jim Hood. He's the exception to the rule.
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