Show Trial of the 21st Century Begins in Monroe

Show Trial of the 21st Century Begins in Monroe, LA

The ghost of Huey P. Long was surely present this morning to witness the preliminary hearing for the Friends of Francis (Thompson) show trial in U. S. District Court in Monroe. Magistrate Karen Hays was presiding.

But there was no Senator Francis Thompson.

Present were a slice, dare I say all, of Richland Parish landed gentry. All the wives, ex-wives, girl friends, ex-girlfriends, servants, fully three generations of Thompsons and their political cronies were part of a standing room only crowd in the court room.

Starting with Mr. Coenen and his notorious attorney Mike Small of Alexandria, each defendant was called to the bar to be sworn in and Mirandized. Magistrate Hays read a description of the charges and the potential sentences and fines to each defendant and asked them if they understood the charges and penalties. In each case they answered in the affirmative. In each case their attorneys entered a plea of not guilty on all charges. The United States is represented by Ms. Mignon Griffin.

It would not be a stretch to say that these normally jovial and back-slapping politically powerful folks were deadly serious today. I am sure some sphincter muscles were seriously puckered up under those imported Brooks Brothers suits.

Could this be the “last hurrah” for the Thompson clan? Will they soon join their political buddy Edwin Edwards in the Marksville Federal Pen? Stay on-line for more information.