Espy Jury to Begin Deliberations Today
A prosecutor asked the jury in Mike Espy’s corruption trial to look past any sympathy for President Clinton’s former Agriculture secretary and convict him of taking illegal favors on the job. Espy abused the public trust by accepting trips, pro basketball tickets and other perks from companies he regulated, independent counsel Donald C. Smaltz said in his closing argument. “This case must be decided on the facts. It cannot be decided on sympathy or politics or race.” Espy is black, as are most members of the jury. The Washington, D.C., panel will begin deliberations today. Espy faces 30 charges involving about $33,000 in sports tickets, travel, entertainment and the like.
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