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N.O. mayor indicted on federal charges Cantrell accused of conspiracy, fraud and obstruction BY JAMES FINN Staff writer
A federal grand jury returned a criminal indictment Friday of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, accusing the mayor of orchestrating a yearslong scheme to conceal a relationship she allegedly pursued with her police bodyguard on taxpayers’ dime. The indictment returned at New Orleans’ federal courthouse accuses Cantrell of 11 counts including wire fraud, conspiracy to obstruct justice and lying to a federal grand jury — all stemming from her efforts to hide the alleged relationship with Jeffrey Vappie, the former New Orleans police officer
assigned to protect her. Prosecutors secured the charges against Cantrell through a superseding indictment in their ongoing prosecution of Vappie, who was charged last summer with wire fraud and false statement counts in the same alleged scheme. Vappie faces additional charges under the new indictment. Prosecutors in the 44-page indictment describe Vappie and Cantrell deleting WhatsApp messages, lying to FBI agents and “intimidating” subordinates as they tried to cover up signs they were pursuing their amorous relationship — including trips to a California winery and Martha’s Vineyard — while Vappie claimed to be on
duty. “This indictment does not allege that a relationship constitutes a crime,” said Michael Simpson, the acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, at a news conference Friday afternoon. “Rather, it reflects the prosecution of two public officials alleged to have engaged in a yearslong, continuing fraud scheme that used public money for personal ends, by exploiting their power and their authority.” Cantrell’s press staff issued a brief statement Friday evening saying that her attorney, Eddie Castaing, is “thoroughly review-
STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD
The indictment of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, pictured here at a July 30 news conference, and her bodyguard alleges that the pair engaged in a yearslong conspiracy to spend public money on travel ä See MAYOR, page 4A during a romantic relationship and then tried to cover it all up.
Trump says no deal made with Putin
Fête-Dieu du Teche
Leaders offer few details about effort to end war in Ukraine
BY MICHELLE L. PRICE and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
ABOVE: Flower girls drop petals into the water as the procession passes during the Fête-Dieu du Teche down the Bauou Teche on Friday in Leonville. Fête-Dieu du Teche is held on the Feast of the Assumption. The Eucharistic procession by boat on the waters of Bayou Teche recalls the rich Acadian history and, in a way, reenacts the journey made by the Acadians 250 years ago. It is also a day that marks the anniversary of the arrival of French-Canadian immigrants who brought the Catholic faith to Acadiana after enduring great trials and suffering. RIGHT: The Blessed Sacrament arrives at St. Francis Regis Catholic Church during the Fête-Dieu du Teche on Friday in Arnaudville.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — President Donald Trump said he and Vladimir Putin didn’t reach a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine after meeting on Friday — despite Putin saying they had come to “an understanding” — as the two leaders offered scant details on what was discussed while heaping praise on each other. In brief remarks as they shared a stage after meeting for about 21/ 2 hours in Alaska, Putin said he and Trump had reached an “understanding” on Ukraine and warned Europe not to “torpedo the nascent progress.” But Trump then said, “There’s no deal until there’s a deal” and said he planned to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders soon, to brief them on the discussions. “We had an extremely productive meeting, and many points were agreed to,” Trump said. “And there are just a very few that are left. Some are not that significant. One is probably the most significant, but we have a very good chance of getting there.” He continued: “We didn’t get there.”
STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD KEMP
ä See TRUMP, page 5A
Judiciary Commission recommends censure for Lafayette judge BY CLAIRE TAYLOR
One incident involved Colbert’s interference in the city’s last-minute attempt to stop a The Louisiana Judiciary Com- rap concert in 2021 at The Dismission is recommending 15th trict, a Johnston Street event Judicial District Judge Royale center, after a shooting the preColbert of Lafayette be cen- vious weekend. The other involved his intersured for two incidents of alleged misconduct. action with a city police officer Staff writer
WEATHER HIGH 94 LOW 75 PAGE 6A
who stopped the judge in 2023 over an alleged traffic infraction. Colbert’s behavior is described in court records as intimidating and disrespectful to the police officer. The Judiciary Commission, which conducted a hearing on the matter in April, sent its rec-
ommendations to the Louisiana Supreme Court on Aug. 6. Eleven members of the Judiciary Commission who participated in the April hearing in which Colbert testified voted unanimously to recommend the Supreme Court: n Suspend Colbert for 30 days
without pay. n Order Colbert to take anger management classes or treatment. n Order Colbert to pay $2,635.96 in costs incurred by the Office of Special Counsel
ä See JUDGE, page 4A Colbert
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