Trent Lott? Do that?

from The Wall Street Journal

A Hard Look at Lott: In related news, the Feds are investigating whether former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott knowingly played a role in the alleged conspiracy involving a Mississippi judge, Bobby Delaughter.

The investigation is looking into whether several associates of Scruggs induced Delaughter to rule in favor of Scruggs in a fee dispute by promising, in return, that Lott would recommend Judge Delaughter for a seat on the federal bench. At the hearing in Oxford yesterday, Balducci testified that Scruggs tried to use the Senator to influence Delaughter.

Indeed, in early 2006, Mr. Lott called the judge and discussed his interest in the federal bench, those people say. Seven months later, in August 2006, Judge Delaughter delivered a ruling widely considered favorable to Mr. Scruggs.

Aides to Lott, who now works as a lobbyist, said in November that the Republican senator’s resignation had nothing to do with the Scruggs indictment.