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 Two Mayors Under Fire

The indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams sent shockwaves across the country. Adams was under investigation since he ran for mayor. And even though rumors swirled, the actual indictment of a sitting mayor astonished most people. So what does this mean for New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell? With similar investigations surrounding Cantrell’s administration, the tactics used by the Department of Justice (DOJ) suggest she may be next.

Targeting Those Closest to the Mayors

The DOJ’s strategy often begins by ensnaring individuals closest to the mayors. In both New York and New Orleans, prosecutors have built their cases by first targeting key advisors and aides. These individuals, pressured by the threat of legal action, are often encouraged to provide damaging information in exchange for leniency.

In both cases, the DOJ has used a familiar playbook: start with charges of financial misconduct. For Adams, this included allegations of corruption and misuse of campaign funds. Similarly, Cantrell’s administration faces allegations of misusing public funds. By focusing on these foundational crimes, federal prosecutors seek to strengthen their cases and eventually implicate the mayors themselves.

Travel and Luxury

Surprisingly, the desire to travel luxuriously is the common denominator. Each mayor seemingly became targeted for their illicit travel upgrades.  Adams is accused of receiving over $100,000 of luxury travel benefits including business class plane seats and lavish hotel suites.  In New Orleans, Cantrell’s upgrades to first class seats were the subject of public outrage.  She eventually paid for the upgrades, but only after significant backlash and public pressure. Ego and a sense of entitlement contribute to the bad decision making.  Politicians need big egos to propel them to enter the rough and tumble word of politics.   But the pitfalls of an ego led life often result in bad decisions. 

And the federal government stands by just waiting for those decisions that have run outside the legal lines. The expectation that governmental business travel includes opulent trimmings contributed mightily to the undoing of these two powerful political figures.

A Clear Message: No Mayor is Untouchable

The indictment of Mayor Adams, the leader of the nation’s largest city, sends a powerful message. If the DOJ is willing to take on such a high-profile figure, they will not hesitate to pursue smaller targets like Mayor Cantrell. The investigations into her administration mirror the pattern seen in New York, and it’s becoming increasingly likely that she will face a similar fate.

The Pressure Mounts for Mayor Cantrell

The legal troubles surrounding Mayor Cantrell have only grown in recent months. The DOJ’s investigation, which has already implicated people in her inner circle, continues to place her administration under intense scrutiny. The latest indictment of businessman Randy Farrell ratchets up the heat on Mayor Cantrell. The feds allege that Farrell used his buddy Fouad Zeton to bribe the mayor with tickets to football games and a steak dinner. They also claim the city’s Chief Administrative Officer accepted tickets to games. Already indicted is the former special security officer of the mayor. 

All of these indictments around the mayor increase the odds that the feds will have a willing witness to testify against the mayor in the event she is also indicted. That the federal government is willing to spend millions of dollars investigating and ligating what seem like small infractions is telling.  With each passing day, the chances of someone turning state’s evidence increase, potentially sealing her fate.

Parallels Between Adams and Cantrell

Both mayors face accusations of fostering environments where corruption can thrive. While Adams has already been indicted, the allegations against Cantrell continue to build. The similarities between the two cases suggest that her indictment could follow sooner rather than later.

A Looming Indictment for Mayor Cantrell

The DOJ’s tactics of pressuring individuals close to both Adams and Cantrell have followed a clear pattern. The net around Mayor Cantrell is tightening, and her indictment now seems more a question of “when” rather than “if.” Just as the DOJ brought charges against the mayor of New York, they are likely to do the same in New Orleans. The political fallout could be significant, and the city should prepare for the possibility of a mayoral indictment in the near future.