Will Herenton Be Indicted?
FAST FACTS:
  • Federal Grand Jury Meeting This Week
  • Maybe Last Chance To Indict Former Mayor Willie Herenton
  • Herenton Received Target Letter This Fall
(Memphis 12/13/2009) Former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton has never had a problem proclaiming his innocence. Now, a Federal grand jury only has a couple of weeks left to decide if they believe him. In October, Herenton received a letter saying he was the target of a federal investigation. The letters usually mean an indictment is coming soon.

"This is third consecutive year we've had this kind of death watch waiting for some horrific legal fate to occur to now the former mayor. It didn't happen last year, it didn't the year before and time is running out for it to happen this year," said political analyst Jackson Baker.

The grand jury is investigating whether Herenton did anything wrong when he made 91-thousand dollars on the Greyhound bus terminal deal. Former City Attorney Elbert Jefferson has gone before the grand jury twice since Herenton received his letter. He testified about his time working in city hall and an ethics investigation he conducted on Herenton. If the grand jury can't decide to indict Herenton, the process will start over again next year.

"If the former mayor isn't indicted by the end of this year, it will be a long time before he is," said Jackson.

No word on what day the grand jury plans to meet.

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