BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (AllPolitics, November 6) -- Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards and his son were indicted Friday on 34 counts including racketeering and conspiracy involving the awarding of riverboat casino licenses in Louisiana.

The charges stem from a wide-ranging Justice Department investigation over the issue of gambling, allegations of extortion and taking kickbacks in exchange for helping entrepreneurs obtain coveted riverboat casino licenses.

The indictment also names Edwards associates Cecil Brown, Andrew Martin, Bobby Johnson and state Sen. Greg Tarver.

Law enforcement officials claim some of the alleged illegal activity took place while Edwards was in office and after his last term ended in 1996. Prosecutors said he was the "leader of a corrupt enterprise whose objectives included illegal and corrupt manipulation of the riverboat gaming licensing process during and after his last two terms as governor and extortion of various applicants in that licensing process."

But Edwards says he has done nothing wrong and claims he has been the target of a Justice Department vendetta.

Edwards' attorney, Mike Fawer, said earlier this week, "He's always remained a figure in the eyes of the FBI as someone, you know, to make a case against. And so they're willing to listen to anyone who'll come on -- come along with a story."

The flamboyant four-time Louisiana governor, also known as the "Cajun Prince" and "Fast Eddie," is legendary for his skill at facing and evading scores of investigations.

The government's case is built largely on wiretaps and allegations by Edwards' confidantes, who claim they gave Edwards, his son Stephen and the others under indictment more than $1 million in exchange for favors.

Among them is Eddie DeBartolo, whose family owns the San Francisco 49ers football team. He recently pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against Edwards.

"This has been a horrendous ... ordeal," said DeBartolo.

Edwards says any money he got was for legitimate lobbying. He has remained defiant, at one point refusing to testify before a grand jury. "They wouldn't give me any information. I wouldn't give them any information," he said then.

For Edwards, fighting prosecutors is routine. In the 1980s, he faced two racketeering trials. Edwards beat those cases and staged his own political comeback in 1991, defeating one-time Klansman David Duke in a race that drew nationwide attention.

"They talk about Bill Clinton being a great political and personal survivor. Edwin Edwards invented the notion of political survival and being great at the political comeback," said former state Rep. Ron Faucheux.

But Edwards watchers say this time the FBI's case appears strong, primarily because key associates have turned against him.

CNN's Pierre Thomas and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Friday, November 6, 1998

•Gingrich's career: Highs, lows and a knack for survival
• Gingrich stuns Washington by stepping aside
• Reaction pours in to Gingrich's decision
• Gingrich's decision: How it happened
• RNC's Nicholson vows to remain in power
• Text of Gingrich statement
• House GOP leadership fight gets rolling
• Sen. Moynihan tells friends he won't seek another term
• Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards indicted
• Newt Gingrich: The man
• 12 states to get $50 million in housing aid
• Census director wants guidance for 2000
• Legal scholars oppose impeachment
• Clinton honors Little Rock's Central High School
• Tipper Gore plans Central America trip
• White House salutes leading artists
• Gramm to head banking committee

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