Update (6:46 PM): District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith texted Howard Ballou "This is an ongoing investigation and he (Mr. Pickering) is welcome to come testify under oath."
Original post (3:03 PM): State Auditor Stacey Pickering defended two employees indicted by a Hinds County grand jury in a press release that is posted below. Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith is prosecuting them for allegedly obstructing an investigation of Ben Allen and his use of funds as Executive Director of Downtown Jackson Partners. Pickering minced no words and provided several documents with the statement. Earlier post with copy of indictments.
State Auditor Pickering’s response to recent actions taken by the
Hinds County District Attorney
Recent actions by Robert Shuler Smith, District Attorney of Hinds County are unprecedented, unfounded and beyond explanation. In a rush to further his own agenda or personal vendettas, he led a Hinds County Grand Jury to take unjust and wrong actions. I am confident that at the end of the day, David Huggins and Karei McDonald, the Director and Deputy Director of the Office of State Auditor’s Investigations Division, will be exonerated. These individuals have served the State of Mississippi with distinction for years in law enforcement and their integrity has never been in question.
*In October 2015, the Hinds County District Attorney issued a subpoena for the files of an investigation that was not complete. This action has never been taken by a prosecutor in Mississippi that we can find.
*Karei McDonald and a second investigator met with Robert Shuler Smith personally to review the subpoenaed files and reports on October 21, 2015. Smith personally signed a hand receipt (see attached) for those files and agreed to allow the Office of State Auditor to continue working to complete the investigation
*A letter from Karei McDonald was sent to Smith on October 27, 2015 to clarify and restate the discussions and actions agreed to at the October 21 meeting (see attached).
*When it was communicated that the District Attorney was not satisfied, State Auditor Stacey Pickering requested a meeting with Robert Shuler Smith to resolve any misunderstandings or problems between the two offices. Smith canceled the meeting and refused to meet with Auditor Pickering (see attached).
·From that point forward, DA Smith began contacting, coaching and ultimately calling OSA staff before the Hinds County Grand Jury.
I am calling on District Attorney Smith to rethink his recent actions and to move to have the indictments against Director Huggins and Deputy Director McDonald dismissed.
Kingfish note: The indictment states Huggins "results of the investigation of Ben Allen from being conveyed" to the District Attorney. This war is getting even hotter.
24 comments:
Nifong, anyone? Looks like we will need a new DA. That is his law license.
Accidentally deleted this anonymous comment. sorry.
How vocal was Ben Allen in his opposition to DA Smith during his campaign?
David Huggins' integrity never called into question...where have you been for the last 30 years Pick?
It's about to get real in Jackson! What if RSS actually wins this case??
Are we talking abuse of process or malicious prosecution? I don't know the difference. But, if I were one of these auditors, or Ben Allen, I'd be hiring myself a lawyer to see about acquiring title to Robert Shuler Smith's home (and his car, and his jewelry, and his stash of dope, etc.)
OK, so they delivered A case file, but was it THE case file?
I am curious, do you think Robert Smith is going to enjoy prison much?
4:06 don't count on it. from what I've read, RSS has a pretty weak case.
Responding to 4:06 p.m., he won't win. He would have to try the case first - and we know that won't happen.
4:39 - He may not be trying cases now, but remember back when Frank Melton was mayor and Smith was a private attorney. Nearly every single high profile criminal defendant and drug dealer hired Smith, and it seemed like he always won acquittals at trial. Those were interesting times...
Wasn't it RSS that showed up and interrupted a press conference the mayor of Clinton was having regarding Jackson criminals coming into Clinton and committing crimes bc RSS wasn't locking them up?
Sounds like this guy spends a lot of time trying to pick fights with other elected officials.
Maybe he should focus more on doing his own job.
http://youtu.be/FONN-0uoTHI
Just watch. And watch what I say. Kingfish and this blog will do anything to alibi for and protect Ben Allen. Ignore Kinfish's bullshit protests and his accusations that I'm a fool, or worse. Just watch the posts.
Stacie needs to put his big boy pants on for this one.
8:18 is ether under the influence or a fool.
As to the indictments of the auditor staffers: bush league. And I think the indictments would be abuse of process.
I bet he's got at least some goods on Ben.
The OSA indictments are just Shuler being a thug.
One thing I do know is that it's not a wise move to blindside the auditor....that's all I'm saying.
Hey, Kingfish. Please write a column explaining the ins and outs of this in layperson's language.
RSS is obviously no longer a member of Pickering's "Family and Friends" program that allows some to be treated different than others.Why has the investigation into Pickering's misuse of money gone silent? Even he deserves to have this matter resolved.
One of the issues with the mayor of Southaven was a car leased by Southaven. The mayor purchased it at the end of the lease but the lease agreement allowed the car to be sold at auction and the mayor's buying it MIGHT have deprived the city of extra money. That case is on appeal and that's one of the issues but little things like that sent that guy to jail
11:46 whatever this is can in no way be compared to accusations and charges against the Mayor of Southaven. Wasn't "little things like that".
8:18 PM, no one has to accuse you of being a fool. You just proved it yourself.
Eyebrows stepped in more than he can handle this time.
Interesting White Collar crime is more important that the 6 people murdered over the past week.
When has murder ever been important in Jackson?
The only time I can remember is when a black is murdered by a white. Otherwise it isn't important enough to make the news.
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