A grand jury has just indicted developer Jay Odom on a felony charge of
official misconduct for his role in the $6 million airport building
that Rep. Ray Sansom secured funding for in 2007.
The jury also added a perjury charge for Sansom, who testified in April that he was unaware the airport building would be used by Odom. (links to indictments here and here.)
State Attorney Willie Meggs said the principal theory of law was applied to charge Odom with official misconduct. "We charged him with being a principal to the acts of an official." In other words, Sansom would have no reason to seek money for an airport building had Odom not pushed for one, according to the indictment. A profile of Odom is here. Video: Meggs explains the charges.
Well, we know Odom is a sleaze who likes to use taxpayers money to benefit economic growth, especially his own business's growth.
But this is a weird legal theory, from an out-of-control grand jury.
So a citizen petitions the government for public spending to help a project the citizen cares about. The public officials do so, but in a criminal way, misusing their public office. Then the citizen is somehow guilty of and a party to the official's misuse of office? Does that leave any citizen safe to ask the government for anything?
Expect any charge like this against Odom to be thrown out by a judge.
It would have been better for the grand jury to charge Odom, Sansom, and Richburg with bribe giving and taking.
Posted by: whasup | May 27, 2009 at 12:32 PM
I hear that Jim Greer is next.
Posted by: Ellen Shultz | May 27, 2009 at 01:37 PM
The skinny in the pan handle is that Gaetz is next. Anyone notice how he tried to lay low this session. At some point Ray et.all turn on him.
Posted by: J.F. | May 27, 2009 at 03:01 PM