After City Council attorney Allan Wade left a meeting with the grand jury this morning, he told reporters huddled in the plaza that his testimony centered around an article published by The Commercial Appeal in January.
The article, written by investigative reporter Marc Perrusquia, revealed that former Mayor Willie Herenton had publicly pressed for redevelopment of the Greyhound station Downtown, while he privately held an option to buy the land - an option that eventually made him personally more than $90,000.
It’s a potential conflict of interest that has become the focus of the ongoing federal criminal probe. It has also spurred two separate investigations at City Hall: one led by then-City Atty. Elbert Jefferson at Herenton’s request and a second led by City Council attorney Allan Wade at former City Council chairman Myron Lowery’s request.
The contents of Jefferson’s investigation have never been released because the former city attorney, who resigned almost two weeks ago, has claimed they are confidential.
Meanwhile, Wade opined that Herenton did not violate any state or local laws.
Both Jefferson and Wade spoke with the grand jury on the matter this morning.
Wade wouldn’t reveal any details about his meeting, however, saying only that they wanted to “talk to me about the law. They’re lawyers and can read the law as well as I can, but I helped them out as best I could.”
Wade said repeatedly he told the grand jury he did not believe the revelations in Perrusquia’s article were grounds for a federal probe.
“I wasn’t asked to determine whether laws were broken,” Wade said. “I was asked to determine whether we should investigate a transaction based on Marc Perrusquia’s article and I said no.”
Wade appeared slightly on the combative side, saying his entire investigation centered on the validity of the article. And he added that the Greyhound property in and of itself holds little value. Not even the Memphis Area Transit Authority was interested in it, he said.
“I think it’s a piece of crap property if you ask me,” Wade said. “I don’t even know why anybody would want it.”
I love this nugget (the $90,000 money quote):
"I think it's a piece of crap property if you ask me," Wade said. "I don't even know why anybody would want it."
Allan has been lucky enough. It's time for him to move on.
Wade is a crook. He is trying to cover for a deadbeat ex-mayor. It is an outright lie to say that there is no conflict of interest in what Herenton did. As far as the property goes, no, I don't think it's a piece of crap property, and he doesn't either. Sad bunch of lying racist politicians that we have here in Memphis. They are like a black mafia that is somewhat sloppy and unorganized.
They run and hide under the race card at every sign of getting caught doing something blatantly illegal. When will the race card play out? It seems to be wearing thin here lately.
"I think it's a piece of crap property if you ask me," Wade said. "I don't even know why anybody would want it."
That "piece of crap" put 90 grand in Willie's pocket. Obviously someone wanted it.