Jim Letten

Politics and prosecutors: tortuous route to an all-powerful office

Aspirants to the office of United States Attorney don’t openly campaign for it. That’s unseemly.

Opinion By Mark Moseley January 4, 2013 5 comments

With Letten gone, ’tis the season for intrigue and wild rumors

Mob boss Carlos Marcello. Wikimedia

It’s transition time at the local U.S. attorney’s office, now that Jim Letten, the nation’s longest-serving federal prosecutor, and his top three lieutenants have retired in the wake of a scandal involving anonymous online comments.

Opinion By Mark Moseley December 18, 2012 5 comments

Letten lesson: Even the best officials need ‘terrible scrutiny’

Teddy Roosevelt aimed his elephant gun at elephants, not house flies. News stories have talked up the “irony” of U.S. Attorney Jim Letten’s resignation, which is effective today.

Opinion By Mark Moseley December 11, 2012 8 comments

Earl updated: Don’t tweet or blog what you can wink or nod

Eight years ago, I was up at odd hours of the night, helping my wife care for a newborn. After a bit of noodling on the internet I discovered and joined the wonderful (and wonderfully small) community of South Louisiana bloggers.

Opinion By Mark Moseley April 26, 2012 1 comment

Does the Canal Street brothel offer peephole on River Birch strategy?

Federal prosecutor Sal Perricone submitted his resignation to U.S. Attorney Jim Letten on Tuesday. It’s a shame because Perricone is one of the smartest guys in the region.

Opinion By Mark Moseley March 21, 2012 3 comments

Will strange bedfellows come back to haunt Billy Nungesser?

Outspoken Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser is picking up endorsements from prominent Republicans as he runs for Lieutenant Governor against incumbent Jay Dardenne, who is himself a Republican. The first nod was from U.S. Sen. David Vitter, who called Nungesser a “conservative reformer.” Nungesser responded jubilantly: “Like Senator Vitter, I am a true conservative.”

Clearly Nungesser sees a path to victory on Dardenne’s right and aims to highlight his conservative credentials on various issues, even if they have nothing to do with the Office of Lieutenant Governor (read: Dept.

Opinion By Mark Moseley September 22, 2011 22 comments