The former New Orleans mayor, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison on corruption charges, holds firm to his claim of innocence, calling the sentencing “surreal.”
Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is facing federal prison in September, but the businessman-turned-politician, who was convicted on 20 out of 21 fraud, bribery and other charges, says he’s innocent.
“I still maintain my innocence,” Nagin told WDSU TV, calling the situation “surreal.” “We’re going to appeal this thing, and it’s just something that’s very difficult.”
The fallen politician criticized the prosecutors for their handling of the case. “I’ve been targeted. I’ve been smeared, tarnished, and for some reason some of the stances that I took after Katrina did not sit well with some very powerful people, so now I’m paying the price for that,” he lamented. “The prosecutors were fairly magical in their ability to take something that supposedly happened and paint it as reality … I was not aware of any of that stuff. I was not involved in any kind of bribes.”
Source: The Root | BREANNA EDWARDS
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