The Scruggs Sentencing Recommendation Letters: A Mixed Mailbag

Representatives from the Sun-Herald (here and here), folo, the Daily Journal, and others were allowed to examine the sentencing recommendation letters from the public on behalf of Dickie and Zach Scruggs and Sid Backstrom. Tom (NMC) Freeland at folo called the positive letters “pretty standard: most accept the gravity of the offense and guilt, but try to explain positive things they have seen about the various defendants over the years.” That’s to be expected from family, friends and associates.

The lowlight: a letter from Ole Miss Chancellor Robert Khayyat on University stationery enthusiastically fawning over Dickie Scruggs, calling him a “model citizen” and calling any incarceration “an absolute waste of a great deal of talent and ability.” We’re talking about an admitted judge briber here, someone who attempted to corrupt justice, and the university’s chancellor thinks that’s excusable in a major financial contributor.

The missing: nothing from Jim Hood, Trent Lott, Mike Moore or P.L. Blake.

The opposition: criticism from Mississippi Bar president Robert Bailess and an unnamed retired Oxford police officer.

Those who examined the letters were not allowed to copy them, which prompted this outstanding response from commenter Fyodor1 at Y’all Politics: “Can we just send in Sandy Berger to help get copies of all the letters? He has a good track record at getting documents.”

UPDATE: Anita Lee at the Sun Herald has more excerpts from the letters.