From Louisiana’s The Advocate comes news that Michael Procell, an employee of the Louisiana State Department of Transportation and Development, was acquitted on charges of bribery by a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Louisiana last Wednesday. Procell had been charged with allegedly accepting a bribe of $800 in 2008 from Raed Saymeh the owner of Raul’s Deli in Baton Rouge. The bribe was allegedly given in exchange for Procell issuing Saymeh a permit. The FBI videotaped the receipt of the money. Procell’s counsel argued that he never asked for, and never expected, any cash in exchange for the permit. Procell expects to resume his position with the Department.
“No organic law can ever be framed with a provision specifically applicable to every question which may occur in practical administration. No foresight can anticipate nor any document of reasonable length contain express provisions for all possible questions.” — Abraham Lincoln