Cantrell Enters Defiant Not Guilty Plea in Federal Corruption Case
City and state Democratic leaders have urged caution, stressing the presumption of innocence and the importance of allowing the courts to determine the outcome.
NEW ORLEANS —Mayor LaToya Cantrell pleaded not guilty Wednesday to 11 federal charges, including conspiracy, wire fraud, and obstruction of justice, signaling her determination to fight allegations that she misused city funds for personal purposes.
Cantrell appeared in federal court flanked by her attorney and city officials. Magistrate Judge Karen Wells Roby released her without bail but ordered her to surrender her passport and restricted her domestic travel to the 13 parishes under the federal court’s jurisdiction, unless granted court approval.
The indictment, first announced last month, alleges Cantrell spent more than $70,000 in taxpayer money on trips with a member of her security detail and withheld evidence from investigators. Cantrell has maintained she will vigorously defend herself, entering a plea that underscores her refusal to admit wrongdoing.
“This is about defending the public record and the integrity of the office,” said Rafael Goyeneche, former prosecutor and president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission. “The charges center on the use of public money, not the personal conduct itself.”
Cantrell, who made history as New Orleans’ first female mayor, now faces another historic distinction: the first sitting mayor in city history to be federally indicted. Legal experts note that the case raises broader questions about oversight, accountability, and public trust in local government.
City and state Democratic leaders have urged caution, stressing the presumption of innocence and the importance of allowing the courts to determine the outcome. Cantrell’s not guilty plea sets the stage for a protracted legal battle that will likely shape the final months of her turbulent second term.
