New Orleans mayor indicted on federal corruption charges

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell (D) was indicted on federal charges Friday after an alleged affair with a local police officer.

Cantrell, the city’s first female mayor, is accused of engaging in a romantic relationship with Jeffrey Paul Vappie II, a police officer in the executive protection unit. 

Court documents allege she orchestrated out-of-state trips to maximize their opportunities to engage in “personal activities” that cost the City of New Orleans over $70,000 in addition to travel expenses for Cantrell. 

Prosecutors say both Cantrell and Vappie were warned about misconduct in 2022.

"Public officials should be in their jobs to serve the public and not themselves. To do otherwise is
a breach of the trust that undermines the public's faith and trust in their own government," U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana Michael Simpson said at a Friday presser.

The Democratic mayor is in her final term as the city’s leader and is now charged with making false statements and false declarations before a grand jury, conspiracy to obstruct justice and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. 

“Aware their conduct violated rules, policies, and criminal laws, Cantrell and Vappir attempted to distract and impede inquiries and investigations, including a federal grand jury investigation, about the true nature and circumstances of their relationship and their scheme to defraud,” the indictment reads.

“They did this by using an encrypted messaging platform, intimidating and punishing subordinates, lying to colleagues and advisors, making false public pronouncements, harassing a o colleagues and advisors, making false public pronouncements, harassing a private individual who took pictures of them in public together, deleting electronic evidence, making false statements to federal law enforcement agents, authoring an affidavit signed under oath and penalty of perjury containing false information, and testifying falsely while under oath before a federal grand jury,” it continues.

Cantrell will face charges in the U.S. District Court’s Eastern District of Louisiana. 

This is a sad day for the people of New Orleans,” said Monet Brignac, a spokesperson for City Council President JP Morrell told The Associated Press. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cantrell family as they navigate through this difficult time.”

Cantrell previously alleged she was targeted as a Black woman and faced “very disrespectful, insulting, in some cases kind of unimaginable” treatment, according to the AP.

The Hill has reached out to the mayor's office for comment.

Updated at 5:27 p.m. EDT