Espy Pleads Not Guilty To 39 Counts

WASHINGTON - Former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy pleaded not guilty today to charges that he accepted and tried to hide more than $35,000 worth of sports tickets, travel and other gifts from agribusinesses.

Espy, who resigned from President Clinton's Cabinet in 1994 and is now an attorney in Jackson, Miss., entered the plea during a brief hearing before U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina.

"May it please the court, I am not guilty," he said in a strong, clear voice.

Urbina did not set a trial date but did issue a schedule for motions and status hearings through Dec. 15, meaning the case likely won't go to trial until next year.

Before the hearing, Espy shook hands with a few of the reporters who had covered him at the Agriculture Department. When one expressed condolences over the circumstances of their meeting, Espy replied, "That's life, though. That's life."

Later, outside the courthouse, Espy read a statement he had scribbled in longhand on a legal pad in which he repeated his innocence.

"Through this trial, the public will now hear my side of the story," Espy said. "Although some have called it a witch hunt, I have faith. I know I will prevail in this latest challenge to my life."

Independent counsel Donald Smaltz declined comment.

A 39-count grand jury indictment returned last month portrays Espy as persistently seeking favors such as tickets to football and basketball playoff games, travel on corporate aircraft and lodging from companies regulated by the Agriculture Department.

Those companies include Arkansas-based Tyson Foods, Sun-Diamond Growers of California, and Oglethorpe Power of Georgia.

In addition, Espy is charged with lying to Agriculture Department investigators and to FBI agents about the gifts and with directing an agency employee to alter a document regarding the probe.

Espy has repeatedly denied wrongdoing but has reimbursed Tyson and other agribusinesses $7,600 for various gifts, tickets and travel.

Most of the counts against Espy carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison each; three carry a one-year minimum in jail.