NEW ORLEANS — Jeffrey Vappie, the former NOPD bodyguard for Mayor LaToya Cantrell, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in federal court Wednesday to charges that he carried on a romantic relationship with the mayor while on the clock for the city.
“Mr. Vappie is anxious to clear his name. He's anxious to prove his innocence,” said Harry Rosenberg, one of Vappie’s defense attorneys.
Vappie was indicted two weeks ago on seven counts of wire fraud for collecting city pay for romantic episodes with the mayor and one count of lying to FBI agents when he denied that such a personal relationship existed.
While the plea was expected, Vappie's defense team for the first time was forced to describe the nature of his ongoing connection with the mayor.
Rosenberg and Shaun Clarke admitted that the two share a close personal relationship that continues despite Vappie’s sudden retirement from the NOPD in June while under investigation and his subsequent federal indictment.
The revelation about the relationship came in response to a last-minute motion by government prosecutors requesting that Vappie cut off all communications with potential witnesses in the case as a condition of his release.
Vappie's attorneys said that would be fine except for one witness: Mayor Cantrell.
In arguments before U.S. Magistrate Donna Currault, Vappie’s defense team admitted for the first time that Vappie and the mayor have had a personal relationship and that those interactions continue. They argued that Vappie would like to talk to his “friend” as he goes through “the greatest ordeal of his life.”
The defense stopped short of describing that relationship beyond that other than to say that prosecutors are trying to “criminalize it.”
“He will respond to those accusations at a later date. Trust me, he will,” Rosenberg said.
The U.S. Attorney's office argued that the no-contact condition is necessary to minimize the chance of “undue collusion or influence.”
Currault gave both sides time to file written arguments about the continuing contact. Until then, she said she would allow contact between Vappie and Cantrell as long as they don't talk about the case. She is expected to issue a final ruling on the bond condition next week.
The case against Vappie is unfolding against the backdrop of a two-year federal investigation into the mayor herself. When asked if Vappie would have been indicted if not for that larger probe, Clarke offered this response “What do you think?”
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