Last year WVUE did a series called “Louisiana Purchased.”
One of the stories the New Orleans FOX affiliate did was on St. Tammany Parish District Attorney Walter Reed who paid his son nearly $30,000 for a campaign fundraiser.
Now, Federal prosecutors wants a copy of newscast and the story. The station says there is some disagreement over what Reed’s son actually did for the money. Reed says his son bought and supplied the alcohol. Reed’s son says he didn’t.
The FBI’s investigation heated up last May, shortly after our stories aired on TV and appeared in the Times-Picayune.
“It seems as if the prosecution is getting their ducks in a row, at least to the extent to get things together to present to the grand jury,” [WVUE legal analyst Joe]Raspanti tells us.
He says it’s hard to isolate what prosecutors want from the newscast, but the different story by Reed and his son could be a possibility.
“It’s about money,” Raspanti says. “Usually by the end of the day, that’s what it’s always about. Here it appears there is a conflict in what they’re saying, as to how the money was spent or not spent.”
Regardless, the subpoena shows the probe into Walter Reed is still going on and at least part of it centers on how he spent campaign money.
A copy of the May 7 newscast must be delivered by 9:00 AM Thursday, March 5.