Dem Candidate Accused of Profiting from Charity

Louisiana Democratic candidate Cedric Richmond has been hit with corruption claims over his role with a non-profit charity.

Democrats see Rep. Joseph Cao's (R-LA) New Orleans seat as one of the most vulnerable Republican seats in the nation. Although the Louisiana primary hasn't yet happened, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has already hailed as its choice state representative Cedric Richmond by adding him to their 'Red to Blue' program.

The DCCC chose Richmond because, in their words, he has been "running the strongest campaign to defeat his Republican opponent". But his campaign has recently taken a hit over revelations that he was charged with a misdemeanor for his role in a bar fight, and that his law license had been suspended because he falsified some election documents.

A new piece by a New Orleans blog, American Zombie, raises new questions about Richmond's involvement in a charity which was shut down because its executive director stole from the group.

According to American Zombie:

• New Orleans Community Enhancement, Inc. (NOCE) raised around $200k a year between 2000-2004.
• Some of this money was granted by the Louisiana Stadium Exposition District, which required a legislator to recommend the grant. State representative Cedric Richmond wrote on official letterhead to endorse the organization's grant request.
• NOCE's address is the same address that appears on Richmond's legislative letterhead.
• The Executive Director was charged and convicted of theft. An audit showed that this staffer opened a credit card account and used it for personal purposes.

All this is established and documented clearly. Here's where we get into unnamed sources and unanswered questions. American Zombie asks whether any of the personal expenses that the executive director made with the non-profit's credit card went to Cedric Richmond. Two sources tell the blogger that Cedric Richmond used the non-profit's funds to purchase a Rolex watch.

The district's previous representative, William J. Jefferson, was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison on corruption charges in 2009 (Jefferson was the congressman who had $90,000 worth of bills stashed in his freezer). From what can be seen, Cedric Richmond seems not to be made of much finer mettle.

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