Judge Drops Some Charges Against Espy
From Times Wire Reports
A federal judge dismissed eight charges against former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy, leaving a jury to decide 30 other counts related to alleged illegal gifts Espy got from companies he regulated. Judge Ricardo Urbina’s oral ruling eliminated a sizable portion of the government’s case against Espy, but left intact the most serious charge of violating the Meat Inspection Act--for which Espy could face mandatory jail time. If convicted of that charge, Espy would face mandatory jail time. The decision followed six weeks of testimony in which prosecutors tried to show that Espy asked lobbyists for big companies for $35,000 worth of football tickets, luggage and other gifts.