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From the most ethical Administration ever:
Ex-Ag Secretary Espy Goes on Trial
By ANNE GEARAN Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy was ''easy pickings''
for corrupt businesses or lobbyists with hopes of influencing his decisions, a prosecutor
charged as Espy's corruption trial got under way today.
Espy was a huge sports fan and chronically short of money, Independent Counsel Donald
Smaltz told jurors in his opening statement. Companies whose business was heavily
dependent on Agriculture Department regulations or decisions knew they could get Espy's
ear when he was secretary by giving him tickets to such things as a Chicago Bulls
championship game or the U.S. Open, Smaltz said.
''They used Mr. Espy's fondness for sports to get on his good side,'' Smaltz said. ''He
was easy pickings for companies that wanted to slip him something special.''
Espy is charged with taking illegal gifts, lying about it and trying to get a friend to cover for
him. He is not charged with taking bribes, and prosecutors do not have to prove that the
companies giving gifts to Espy got anything in return.
Prosecutors have lined up about 100 witnesses, and attorneys for Espy plan a similar
number of witnesses at his federal trial. Espy faces 38 charges involving allegations he
accepted about $35,000 worth of travel, sports tickets, luggage and other goods.
Four days of jury selection ended Tuesday with a panel of 12, plus six alternates. U.S.
District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina predicted the trial will last a minimum of six weeks.
Espy pleaded innocent last year to 39 charges, including one that has since been dropped.
The potentially most serious charges are three alleged violations of the 1907 federal meat
inspection law, each of which carries a mandatory minimum one-year prison term.
A former Democratic congressman from Mississippi, Espy was President Clinton's first
agriculture secretary. Espy resigned in 1994 after Smaltz began an investigation of his
relationships with several companies, including chicken processor Tyson Foods Inc.
Arkansas-based Tyson was fined $6 million after pleading guilty to giving Espy more than
$12,000 in gifts.
Smaltz's four-year investigation also included Espy associates and former employees.
Espy, 45, practices law in Mississippi.
(PROFILE (CO:Tyson Foods; TS:TSN; IG:FOD;) )
AP-NY-10-01-98 1201EDT
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