NEW ORLEANS -- Three days before LaToya Cantrell is sworn in as mayor of the city, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry issued a statement that his investigation into the mayor-elect and her use of her city-issued credit card is “ongoing” and extends beyond her.
"Our investigation in New Orleans is still ongoing and it is more widespread than just the Mayor-Elect,” Landry’s statement read in part. “The Legislative Auditor is also involved to examine the City's spending practices. We look forward to his audit's conclusion and will not make a prosecutorial decision until at least such time."
Landry said he made the statement because of “too much misinformation being spread to the public.” But Ruth Wisher, Landry’s spokesman, said the office would not elaborate on what that inaccurate information might be or from where it has come.
VIDEO: A.G. seeking Mayor-Elect LaToya Cantrell's credit card records
Landry and Cantrell had been locked in a heated battle about the investigation that seemed to cool recently when the two sides agreed to let investigators with the AG’s office review Cantrell’s personal bank records.
Cantrell’s attorney has in court records described the investigation as a “witch hunt," and Landry’s statement appeared to catch Cantrell's administration off guard.
Beau Tidwell, Cantrell's communications director, issued a statement that suggested the AG’s office recently indicated its investigation would end with no charges and called it a "stunt."
"Today’s statement from AG Landry is completely at odds with representations made by the Attorney General’s staff to our legal counsel as recently as this morning. Contrary to what Landry’s statement insinuates, the findings of his staff completely exonerate Mayor-elect Cantrell. They found no evidence of wrongdoing, and in fact, they believed they were provided inaccurate information by politically motivated individuals in the first place.
“The decision by the AG today to do a complete about-face and disregard the findings of his staff is a grave disappointment. We will not be distracted by stunts like this, and the Cantrell administration remains focused on the serious work of delivering results for the people of New Orleans.”
During last October’s mayoral runoff campaign, news broke that Cantrell used her city credit card to pay for personal expenses and more than 30 trips. Cantrell reimbursed the City Council about $9,000 for expenses she considered “gray areas,” including more than $4,400 she paid back just days before she qualified to run for mayor.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro, who backed Charbonnet, referred the case to state Attorney General Jeff Landry just before Cantrell was elected mayor last November.
In addition to Landry’s office, the state's legislative auditor has looked into Cantrell’s use of her city credit card. That office also requested records related to the use of city credit cards by the other six City Council members.
The City Council on Thursday passed a motion to adopt a policies and procedures manual for city-issued credit cards, Gambit reported.