Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has pleaded not guilty to 21 charges in a federal indictment alleging corruption. He’s free on $100,000 bond.
The former mayor pleaded not guilty 21 times when asked by the judge to respond to each charge. He made no comment to reporters as he was coming into the federal building and as he was leaving minutes after the hearing.
Nagin was forced to surrender his passport and restrict his travel to Louisiana and Texas, where he now lives outside Dallas. He didn’t make eye contact with media representatives sitting a few feet from the defense table.
Nagin is accused of taking bribes in exchange for city contracts, filing false income tax returns, and other crimes while in office.
Trial was set for April 29.
