Update: Mayor Herenton Sex Plot: The FBI Says Allegations Of Improper Conduct Are False

[struggle4progress]

Source: Eyewitness News Memphis

Last Update: Jun 15, 2007 4:05 PM
Posted By: Shane Myers

he Memphis division of the FBI released a statement late last night, June 14, 2007, responding to a letter Mayor Herenton sent to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. In the letter to the U.S. Attorney General, Mayor Herenton alleges improper conduct by Federal Bureau of Investigation Personnel.

The letter Mayor Herenton sent to the U.S. Attorney was to ask for a special investigation into Allegations of a politically-motivated conspiracy, initiated by a group of Memphis citizens including key business leaders and at least one high-level elected official. He said the people involved conspired to embarrass him in his elected capacity as Mayor of Memphis.

Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Division of the FBI, My Harrison, released a statement saying “I have reviewed Mayor Herenton’s letter to Attorney General Gonzales and I can state that the allegations of improper conduct by Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel are false.” ~snip~



Read more: http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=0ff103cd-36b4-443a-8f4c-727db6fee56f

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Woman claiming sex plot against Memphis mayor arrested
Associated Press - June 15, 2007 7:05 PM ET

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - ~snip~
Police said Gwendolyn Smith was arrested in Nashville on a charge of smoking marijuana while on probation for an unrelated forgery conviction.

Smith has told police she was recruited by political enemies of Mayor Willie Herenton to seduce him and videotape their sexual encounter.

Herenton yesterday thanked Smith for exposing the alleged plot and expounded on his belief that wealthy conspirators are trying to undermine his bid for re-election to a fifth term.

Smith contends she was offered $150,000 to take part in the sex-scandal plot by Richard Fields, a well-known Memphis lawyer. ~snip~

http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=6666555


Andrew Douglas reports
Unlikely supporter sticks up for Mayor Herenton
June 15, 2007 10:29 PM

~snip~ These comments from a man who more than a year ago led the failed effort to recall the mayor and get him out of office.

After hearing about the alleged plot, Matthews insists the mayor's time in office is up but the people should decide without influence of a setup.

Matthews added, "I will not stand by as a black man and watch another black man be taken out by this political method. If he's taken out by legal office, then fine." ~snip~

http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=6667078


Posted by 3 On Your Side Watchdog Mike Matthews
Sex, Lies and Audio Tape

He's been called the last integrationist. Richard Fields of Memphis is an attorney who has fought to make sure that Shelby County Schools were taking care of both white and African-American students. He has fought to make sure that Blacks got a fair shake in the police department and fire departments. Richard Fields children are bi-racial. And Richard Fields is hurt. "I've considered myself a friend of Willie Herenton for a long time," he says.

But he says he's also the victim of lies. Gwendolyn Smith, Fields says, came to him in 2005. She wanted to try and get her boyfriend out of jail early. Smith asked Fields if he could help her get in touch with the FBI, because she had a story to tell. "She said she had proof that the Mayor and one of his aides partied with strippers from Platinum Plus lounge," Fields said. Smith was a former waitress at the notorious topless bar. Fields says he helped Smith out of concern for Herenton. "There have been allegations about the Mayor and his behavior over the last few years," Fields said. "I wanted to find out if the allegations were true or not." Fields says Smith never backed up her allegations with any facts, and therefore he didn't follow on the story. ~snip~

http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=6666698


Mayor Herenton Sex Plot: New Details Revealed
Last Update: Jun 15, 2007 12:41 PM
Posted By: Sarah Buduson

~snip~ Smith’s letter to says the plot started in January 2007. Smith says that's attorney Richard Fields said he had a “special job” for. Smith says Fields asked her to try to videotape her and Mayor Herenton having sex and to gather "embarrassing" evidence against Mayor Willie Herenton. Smith says Fields and the other people involved in the plot planned to use the information she would supply to blackmail Mayor Herenton into not running for office again. Smith says Fields told her an FBI agent named Bob Reicht, car dealer Russell Gwatney and MLGW board member Nick Clark were all involved in the plot.

Smith says in exchange for cooperating with the plot, Fields promised to pay her $150,000, give her a new car,. a new apartment, among other rewards.

Smith says she became involved with Richard Fields when represented her in a criminal case a few years ago. Smith says during that time, she “was forced to submit to his (Fields) unwanted sexual advances . . . to stay out of jail."

Smith says after she failed to produce any incriminating evidence against Mayor Herenton, Fields began threatening her. She says she went to Mayor Herenton, Police Director Larry Godwin, and Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons because she is concerned for her safety and the safety of her three children. ~snip~

http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=863bd374-e869-4ff5-b373-050ad609e5e6

[MADem]

1. Jeeeeesus, you can't make this shit UP!!! nt

[countmyvote4real]

2. Somebody is, but it's hard to tell. n/t

[MADem]

3. I guess the old ways never go out of style, at the end of the day.

Who knew the honey pot trap didn't go out with the Cold War?