Sharon Cobb is reporting the news that the Oxford, Miss., office of Trent Lott's brother-in law has been raided by the FBI. As she notes, the timing is tres awkward, what with Lott's just-announced retirement:
Late yesterday afternoon, news broke that Trent Lott's brother-in-law Richard Scruggs in Oxford, Mississippi had his law office raided by the FBI.
You want to know what they're looking for? Contracts and documents related to Katrina and State Farm, according to my sources.
Interesting timing on Lott's retirement, huh?
Very interesting, indeed. I haven't seen anything about this on CNN, but the AP has a short story up:
Langston told The Associated Press the agents were looking for a document that "might be ancillary to something pertaining to Katrina litigation," but is not directly involved in any of those cases. He declined to elaborate but said authorities are not likely to find the document at the office.
Scruggs is a high-profile lawyer who has represented policyholders in lawsuits against State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. over Hurricane Katrina damage claims. State Farm is based in Bloomington, Ill.
[...]
In June, U.S. District Judge William Acker in Birmingham, Ala., ruled Scruggs violated a court order to return documents given to him by two sisters who helped State Farm adjust claims on Mississippi's Gulf Coast after Katrina. The storm struck Aug. 29, 2005.
After U.S. Attorney Alice Martin declined to prosecute Richard Scruggs, Acker appointed special prosecutors for the case.
The AP story didn’t mention Scruggs’ famous brother in law, but his Wikipedia bio does.
Hmm, wonder what's in that document? Any guesses?
[UPDATE]:
Someone’s been indicted.
