Ex-New Orleans mayor Nagin indicted

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin — who garnered political fame and his searing attacks on the Bush administration in 2005 for his mayoral role during Hurricane Katrina — was indicted Friday on corruption charges including bribery and wire fraud.

A federal grand jury charged him with 21 counts of corruption, saying he took $160,000 in bribes from contractors who were working to rebuilding the city from Katrina’s destruction while he was mayor, according to The Associated Press.


Earlier this week, New Orleans TV affiliate WWLTV reported that Nagin turned down a plea deal.

“His position has always been consistent that he’s done nothing improper,” Nagin’s attorney Robert Jenkins told the station.

New Orleans businessmen Frank Fradella and Rodney Williams pleaded guilty for providing money and bribing Nagin.

Nagin was a controversial mayor and congressional Republicans in a 2006 report singled him out for waiting until less than a day before Katrina hit land before ordering a city evacuation.

Nagin left office in 2010 after his once sky-high popularity had largely dissipated and he moved to the Dallas area, according to The Times-Picayune.

The Times-Picayune reported that the former mayor’s adult sons Jeremy and Jarin could also face charges in connection with reportedly collecting money from Williams.

Nagin made several controversial comments following Katrina’s destruction, at one point he told local radio station WWL-AM with reference to the feds’ response: “Now get off your asses and do something, and let’s fix the biggest g*ddamn crisis in the history of this country.”

The Times-Picayune also published a special editorial Friday: “The failed promise of his administration hampered the city’s progress, particularly after Hurricane Katrina and the levee failures. But Mr. Nagin’s alleged self-dealing is a far greater disappointment. He had an opportunity to set a high mark for professionalism and ethical behavior for the office. But that opportunity was squandered.”