Sunday, January 31, 2010
Nighbert/Lawson Acquittal Leaves Unanswered Questions
KENTUCKY....
Although the bid-rigging case for Leonard Lawson and Bill Nighbert ended Friday with an acquittal, there seems to be some dangling unanswered questions. Federal prosecutors have not said what they will do with key witness, former state highway engineer Jim Rummage, who testified he took money from Lawson in exchange for confidential bid information...but was not given immunity. Lawson employee Brian Billings has not been tried, and it’s not certain if he will be. Nighbert still faces a state ethics charge for failing to disclose his ownership in a corporation, Double Buck LLC, that was part of the federal indictment. Nighbert attorney, Howard Mann, says Nighbert's failure to list the company on his disclosure form for 2007 was an oversight. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Taylor said Saturday a quick decision will be made concerning Rummage and Billings. Lawson attorney Larry Mackey suggested Rummage be charged with lying to the jury, but added, “My prediction is he will not be charged.”
Although the bid-rigging case for Leonard Lawson and Bill Nighbert ended Friday with an acquittal, there seems to be some dangling unanswered questions. Federal prosecutors have not said what they will do with key witness, former state highway engineer Jim Rummage, who testified he took money from Lawson in exchange for confidential bid information...but was not given immunity. Lawson employee Brian Billings has not been tried, and it’s not certain if he will be. Nighbert still faces a state ethics charge for failing to disclose his ownership in a corporation, Double Buck LLC, that was part of the federal indictment. Nighbert attorney, Howard Mann, says Nighbert's failure to list the company on his disclosure form for 2007 was an oversight. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Taylor said Saturday a quick decision will be made concerning Rummage and Billings. Lawson attorney Larry Mackey suggested Rummage be charged with lying to the jury, but added, “My prediction is he will not be charged.”
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:58 AM 
