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Mayor Frank Melton is back in Jackson after spending a week in Texas recovering from heart trouble, his attorney John Reeves said Monday. “I talked to him today, and he sounded real upbeat and ready to get back to work,” Reeves said. “He’s going to the office tomorrow.
Melton checked into St. Dominic’s Hospital with fluid in his lungs two weeks ago, days after his federal trial was delayed amid concerns that his worsening heart condition made him unfit to stand trial. The mayor’s cardiologist has diagnosed him with end-stage cardiomyopathy, and a federal judge has ordered Melton to undergo cardiac rehabilitation.
Reeves said he did not know whether Melton’s health necessitated a further delay in the trial. “I won’t know that until we get closer to the trial date,” Reeves said.
Melton and his former bodyguard, Michael Recio, are scheduled to face charges of civil rights violations on Feb. 2.
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Fox 40 News is reporting that Judge Jordan and Melton’s counsel are currently in a conference call to see if Melton is healthy enough to stand trial. It’s at fox40now.com (no link to the story yet).
#143037 | Author: golden eagle | Date: Jan 22 2009
The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.