Deliberations halted in Edwards trial as judge holds inquiry

Natalie Gott

Tuesday, May 2, 2000 | 1:05 a.m.

BATON ROUGE, La. - Deliberations in former Gov. Edwin Edwards' federal racketeering trial stalled Tuesday while the judge investigated something - he did not say what.

U.S. Judge Frank Polozola told reporters about his inquiry after a closed-door meeting with attorneys and defendants. That meeting lasted about an hour Tuesday morning.

Polozola also revealed that on Monday he investigated unspecified allegations about a juror's actions during the trial, but decided the allegations were "frivolous and without merit."

The juror will remain on the panel, he said.

After making his statement to reporters in court without the jury present, Polozola asked reporters and spouses of the defendants to leave while he met privately with attorneys and defendants.

"Now the court has to conduct another inquiry," Polozola said. He did not give any details.

Polozola said he told reporters about the investigation to help "eliminate some of the speculation" about what was occuring with the trial. Attorneys and defendants also met in secret with Polozola on Monday.

The attorneys, defendants and judge remained locked up in the courtroom on the third floor of the federal courthouse the rest of the day. Reporters were not allowed on the third floor during the meeting.

Edwards, his son, Stephen, state Sen. Greg Tarver and four others are accused of a series of extortion schemes to manipulate the licensing of Louisiana riverboat casinos from 1991 through 1997. If convicted on all counts, Edwards, 72, faces more than 300 years in prison.

Attorneys would not say whether either of the inquiries was related to Polozola's closed-door meeting on Monday with Edwards' wife, Candy.

Mrs. Edwards was called into the judge's chambers for about 30 minutes Monday. She would not say what the meeting was about.