Voted out, mayor in hospital
The indicted mayor of Mississippi’s largest city was taken from his home in an ambulance late Tuesday, just before losing his bid for reelection in a contentious Democratic primary, a week before his second federal trial.
Mayor Frank Melton’s attorney, John Reeves, refused to discuss his client’s condition but confirmed that he was in a Jackson hospital.
Melton, 60, who has a history of serious heart problems, faced nine Democratic challengers in Tuesday’s citywide primary.
Unofficial results show Melton came in fourth.
He had to finish first or second to qualify for a runoff.
Next week, a second trial is set to start for Melton and a former bodyguard, who each face two federal civil rights charges related to an Aug. 26, 2006, sledgehammer attack on a duplex that Melton considered a crack house.
A judge declared a mistrial in February after a jury failed to reach a verdict.
In 2007, Melton was acquitted on state charges stemming from the same incident.
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