MEMPHIS, TN - As the mayor of the City of Memphis, Willie Herenton publicly supported the redevelopment of the downtown spot where the Greyhound bus station sits. Privately, Mayor Herenton made money on the deal because his real estate company had an option to buy the property.
According to an investigation by The Commercial Appeal, Herenton Investment Co. pocketed more than $90,000 in 2006.
And even though it raised questions about ethics and prompted a federal investigation, His Honor told Eyewitness News on Tuesday, January 13, 2009, he sees no dishonor in his actions.
"I think the centerpiece of the investigation is a line of separation between public and private," says Mayor Herenton. "I think I know where the line is. I feel confident I have not crossed that line."
But Mid-South legal experts say Herenton is walking a fine line between right and wrong.
"It does give some appearances that you are taking advantage of your position," says Dr. Larry Moore, an attorney who teaches business law at the University of Memphis.
Dr. Moore says while it looks like the mayor has some conflict of interest here, the feds may not have a strong case. A grand jury has been looking into the corruption allegations for quite awhile.
"If you've really got something solid," says Moore, "why would you sit on it for this long? Apparently, there are some problems."
Hickman Ewing Jr., the man who once held the U.S. Attorney's job for more than a decade, disagrees. He says it's not uncommon for an investigation like this to last months, even years. He says high profile cases like Herenton's require great attention to detail.
"It's the norm," says Ewing, "in cases involving elected officials to take a long time."
During a State of the City address to the Rotary this afternoon, Mayor Herenton said legal counsel advised him not to talk about the investigation.
"You're always going to get people shooting arrows in your back," he says. "But what really bothers me is when my integrity, character and honesty are being questioned. That cuts deep."
Herenton says he's making plans to defend himself should any indictments get handed up.
But with the grand jury convening for so long now, some wonder if the government's case is all smoke and no fire.
"I think if you've got something," says Dr. Moore, "put it on the table. Because the citizens of Memphis have had to go through this for way too long."
"They'll look at the facts," says Ewing. "And he may or may not be charged. I can't say. If I was the U.S. Attorney, I wouldn't charge the mayor of the city unless I had a really good case."
