Longtime former DA faces federal corruption trial, accused of misusing campaign money
A jury was selected and opening statements were made Monday in the federal corruption trial of a longtime former Louisiana district attorney on charges that he misused campaign money.
In office for 30 years before he opted not to seek reelection in 2014, as a federal investigation was looming, Walter Reed faces a slew of charges including conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering, reports the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
The 69-year-old is accused of spending at least $100,000 in campaign funds on improper expenses including private dinners, flowers for relatives and payments to those who referred business to his law firm, the newspaper reports. Prosecutors also say the $30,000 per year he was paid for legal work by St. Tammany Parish Hospital should have gone to the district attorney’s office.
A jury was seated by noon, WDSU reports, and federal prosecutors began explaining how Reed allegedly used campaign money to benefit himself and his son, Steven, who also faces charges.
As the top lawman in the 22nd Judicial District, which includes St. Tammany and Washington parishes, Reed was a popular DA known for being tough on crime.
While his spending might at times have gotten close to the line, he never did anything to justify prosecution, his lawyer, Richard Simmons Jr., has said.
The New Orleans trial is expected to last at least two weeks. If convicted, Reed could face a hefty prison term and possibly millions of dollars in fines.
