NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — On Monday morning, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams spoke to WGNO shortly before heading into the office. Monday marks his first day back to work since his acquittal.
DA Williams had been on trial for federal tax fraud, but was found not guilty on Thursday, July 28. Williams said it’s a new day, and that he’s grateful to be vindicated and now it’s time to focus on the people’s business in regards to the criminal justice system.
Although, he and Nicole Burdett, his former law partner, were found not guilty on 10 shared counts of tax fraud, Burdett was found guilty on four of her separate tax fraud charges. Before work on Monday, Williams said Burdett will too be vindicated.
Williams said Burdett acted with integrity throughout it all, and she paid the price for her integrity. Williams said he compared his trial and tribulations to how police officers are sprayed with pepper spray before they can carry it.
“And now I personally felt the pain, fear, isolation and disorientation of an abuse of power, the abuse of prosecution discretion, it was an incredibly sober experience to witness the power of an over reaching rogue prosecution,” Williams said.
Williams added that one important thing he learned over the last two weeks was that this could happen to anyone. He said he will continue to fight for victims of violent crimes in our city.