Mike Edmonson has missed his self-imposed deadline.
First, Edmonson, former Superintendent of Louisiana State Police (LSP) screamed foul when a state AUDIT of LSP was leaked prematurely, ostensibly before he’d had the opportunity to review it and to respond.
Then, when WWL-TV ran a screen shot of the auditor’s LETTER to Edmonson, we learned that the alleged “leak” in all likelihood came from Edmonson himself because only two copies of the audit were printed.
One copy went to LSP and the other to Edmonson for his review and comments before publication. But only one of those two copies contained the letter to the former state top cop.
That would seem to eliminate all potential sources of the leak but one: Edmonson himself.
But Edmonson, apparently unaware of the significance of that screen shot, went on the offensive, claiming that he had been grievously wronged by the premature “leaking” of the audit before he had his chance to respond.
“For inexplicable reasons, the confidential draft report regarding me and the Louisiana State Police was leaked to the media and the contents of the draft then was (sic) disseminated to media outlets throughout the State—all before I could respond to the various contentions (sic),” he said in a written statement to Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera. “Realizing the inherent unfairness to me, the residents of our State, as well as respect for the normal procedures, I trust your office has begun an investigation into this improper conduct and will soon report your findings.
“…Given the publication of large segments of a preliminary commentary, and the apparent breach of normal practices that seems to have disclosed the entirety of the confidential draft report, I am now constrained (sic) to notify you that you can release the report and provide your report to the Louisiana State Senate this week. I, in turn, will promptly deliver my response feeling confident the residents of this State will not prematurely reach conclusions until all of the facts are presented. That is the way the process works, that is the only impartial and objective approach, and I strongly believe that is what our fellow citizens expect.”
On Dec. 14, he said he would submit his official response to the audit’s “various contentions” by Jan. 15, 2018. That gave him a full month to compose his rebuttal.
January 15, 2018, came and went yesterday (Monday) and a text message to Purpera’s office revealed Edmonson has yet to submit his response.
Well, you know, the 15th was a state holiday and now we’re all snowed in so…
Thanks Tom for staying on top of this matter. Mike knows how to play the media, he did it his whole career. But, his situation has changed. He is no longer in a position of power to control and further manifest his needs.
Amazing what has happened to the all powerful and popular corrupt Mike Edmonson in the last 10 months. The audit was damning, but many know there is more corruption to be revealed. It is now time for him and his corrupt minions to be brought to justice for the crimes they have committed.
The way you smoke a rattle snake out of a hole is by pouring more gasoline down the hole. Edmonson is a very large snake, but hopefully the Feds will bring enough “high-octane” with them to make him belly crawl out of his pit of political serpents. The IRS alone has enough on him to send him away for years, not to mention all the other felonies he’s committed against the State of Louisiana.
Time will tell, but don’t hold your breath for Louisiana to do anything with this drunkard, pathological lying, career, criminal scumbag.
Hell, the majority of those running state government are just as crocked as Edmonson. All of the upper rank at Louisiana State Police were promoted to high command by Edmonson himself. It will take decades to turn the State Police around unless the Louisiana State Statute is changed to allow someone outside State Police to come in and clean house.
Under a new Federal Administration, and with a wise business-minded President in Office I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t come down hard on the now publicly “TARRED AND FEATHERED” Edmonson.
Personally, I think once the FBI, and IRS complete their investigation, Edmonson will be tried, and jailed as an example to others for his abuse of power.
I think the Feds are going to come down on him hard. There’s too many citizens from all across the state ringing the phones off the walls about this mess to Washington for them to look the other way. And the Trump Administration is doing all they can to clean up corruption, and “Drain The Swamp.”
Honestly, I’d bet my last dollar that Mr. Edmonson gets very little sleep. Sure he’s not worried about all the Felonies he committed against Louisiana, but he’s no fool and has now crossed the line playing ball with the Federal boys, and they carry VERY BIG BATS! Like an old country man told me years ago, “pigs get fed, but hogs get slaughtered.” Had he only taken a little here, and a little there, he most likely would have gotten away with it, but he got big, fat, and greedy, and like the old man from years ago said “Hogs Get Slaughtered” and I’d bet as I type this the Federal Government Agents are sharpening their knifes for a Hog skinning.
Check if he has bought a home in any of these countries, which apparently have no extradition treaty with the United States: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, Chad, Mainland China, Comoros, Congo (Kinshasa), Congo (Brazzaville), Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, São Tomé & Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican, Vietnam and Yemen.
🙂
Well, you’re sure not making Tom’s job any easier.
I agree with most of what you say except that part about the new “business-minded administration in Washington.” I don’t believe Trump or any of his minions (especially Jeff-the-elf Sessions) have any idea of anything going on in Louisiana—and they wouldn’t care if they did. You’re giving Trumpet (he does like to blow his own horn) far too much credit.
Tomaswell, I agree with your statement. Having the Federal Government, FBI, IRS, ect. come down on Edmonson is simply wishful thinking on my part. It just saddens me to see the Louisiana State Police drug threw the mud because of the unethical actions of Edmonson. I also know for a fact that those now in Command of LSP where hand picked by Edmonson. A complete house cleaning of the upper command at LSP is the only answer to turn the image of the Louisiana State Police around. The State Statute must be changed to allow for an outsider to be appointed Superintendent of State Police to clean up this mess. Anything less, and the Department will remain the same as it was under the Edmonson Administration for years to come. Trust me on this one, I spent the best years of my life as a Louisiana State trooper, and know the workings of the Department at HQ from the inside.
I must respectfully disagree that anyone in Washington will care one whit about wrongdoing and illegal goings-on in Louisiana, because “too many citizens from all across the state ringing the phones off the walls about this mess to Washington for them to look the other way.” If true, jindal and his minions would be in a slammer for their illegal activities (blank pages in contracts; misuse of federal funds, etc. etc.). Because many citizens across Louisiana rang a lot of phones in DC about those things….starting with the FBI public corruption unit. See any results? Any at all?
Ronnie Jones is probably just being slow at writing his response for him.
Feliciana Slim, you are correct about Ronnie Jones writing for him in the past. Problem is, Ronnie still likes his Gaming Control Board Job and must now distance himself from Mike.
Mike is so upset on how many are now keeping their distance from him.
Now that the deadline has come and gone, what can we really expect to happen with the Edmonson fiasco? I have read all the comments about the Feds, the corruption still in place and hogs getting slaughtered but what do you really think is gonna happen? So far I’ve not read or heard of a criminal case being opened at the local or state level, either the DA in the 19th or the from the AG’s office and according to all that was reported there was plenty to investigate! One has to remember, this is still Louisiana and punishing what was once one of the “fair haired ” favorites has never been a strong point.
You are correct. If anything at all gets done it will have to be at the federal level. At the state and local level they are all in bed together. The blatant disregard of criminal wrongdoing and malfeasance by the governor, the AG, the IG and the DA is revolting and a slap in the face to the taxpayer.
Feliciana Slim, your right on “they are all in bed together” Ronnie Jones is of the “Gay persuasion”, which has been common knowledge within the ranks Louisiana State Police for decades.
Kinda makes one wonder why, for all these years Ronnie has been Edmonson’s shadow. Hum……………………………………
Bud Daniels, truth is that I seriously doubt anything will ever be done to Edmonson. My post was just simply wishful thinking on my part. Louisiana only fry’s the small fish. Big fish like Edmonson are caught, and released. Louisiana, the state where the “fat man does the dancing, while the poor man pays the band”………………………………………..
Let me see if I can write a response to the audit, If I were in his shoes… I have investigated myself and found no fault. My one time friends and #2 HITMAN better be worried because I will tell all their dirty secrets if I am back into a corner with no way out. The other rats should be worried about what I talk about======= that’s how I would write a response to all of it.
One can’t help but wonder what that “Faming Fag” Ronnie Jones has on all that crowd at the Louisiana State Police HQ. He must have some “very” nasty video tapes on the entire lot of them, to continue to be allowed to prance around in his leotards all over at HQ, and maintain his control over gaming in the State of Louisiana. Word has it, he even has smutty videos on Mr. Reeves, time will only tell………………………………….Hum. This could be very entertaining before it goes away anytime soon.
CORRECTION: I meant smutty videos/photo’s on EDMONSON, not Mr.Reeves. Ronnie Jones has to have someone down there by the “short-hairs” to continue in his position over the Louisiana Gaming Commission.