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The wait is over. Almost. Frank Melton’s JFP Interview. Part I.

(Editor’s note: The following comments were posted during the day and hours before the first interview appeared.)

Previous Comments

Whoa. Melton and the Jackson Free? This has got to be good. And we get ring-side seats. (smile) Can’t wait.


OMG. Nicely done, Donna. Cheers, TH


That will be worth the trip to our local liquor store to pick up a copy- any wine suggestions?


I think a fine MadDog 20/20 (Grape) might make whatever he says better! The interview should be good though! Compare and Contrast exercise: WLBT “Batman” story WAPT “Batman” story Notice the glaring difference?!? WLBT: “The case is drawing a lot of attention, even from Jackson Mayor Frank Melton, who reacted earlier Monday when he heard that the trial might not even happen. Melton was furious when he heard District Attorney Faye Peterson had filed a motion to dismiss charges against Donelson. When he heard charges could be dropped, Melton told reporters, “This man is dangerous. He has conspired to kill eight people in this community. He’s a coward and while he didn’t do it himself, he ordered the deaths of eight people in this community including a 16-year-old child they beat to death with a pipe and the state ought to be able to prove all of that.” District Attorney Faye Peterson declined to comment on why she was ready to drop the charges against Donelson.” ______________________ WAPT: “But the case against Donelson was almost thrown out on Monday. “I never had a conversation on the phone at all … Melton is lying .. He did it,” said Donelson. Melton walked into court on Monday with a person he calls a key witness, a person Melton reportedly gave money to and as a result, almost prompted the district attorney to charge him with witness tampering.” And this: “WAPT tried to speak to Hinds County District Attorney Faye Peterson about Melton’s role in the trial and she quickly replied, “Frank Melton is not the Hinds County District Attorney, I am.” Lordy, Lordy! Amazing isn’t it! BTW: Is it me or does “Batman” Donelson look more like “Uncle Fester” Donelson?


All I have to say is: I can’t wait! This will be really interesting to watch play out.


WHAT THE….!!!???!!!! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN!!!! HAS HELL FROZE OVER!!!!! CMON JFP DETAILS…DETAILS…..


This is good news. If he tries to walk out on you, follow him.


He didn’t walk out—on any of the interviews. It was his idea. 😉 Sit tight, gang.


He still might try to skoot towards the door so if you have to, sit on his lap…lol.. makes for good snapshots in the print version *picture that* Donna Ladd sitting on Frank Melton’s lap. I can feel the love already. :o) good luck


…I hope you got some tough questions. and I mean TOUGH.


It was his idea? Okay, Mr. Melton, that was friggin’ cool. Cheers, TH


If it was Mr. Melton’s idea that kind of makes me worried…like he’s got something under his sleeve or something. But then again it makes me think maybe he wants to try and set somethings straight. He and and his actions/opinions are a very popular and frequent topic of JFP. It’s about time he faced the music!


*cue rhe violins*

MFP Solutions Lab logo

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.

Founding Editor Donna Ladd is a writer, journalist and editor from Philadelphia, Miss., a graduate of Mississippi State University and later the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where she was an alumni award recipient in 2021. She writes about racism/whiteness, poverty, gender, violence, journalism and the criminal justice system. She contributes long-form features and essays to The Guardian when she has time, and was the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Jackson Free Press. She co-founded the statewide nonprofit Mississippi Free Press with Kimberly Griffin in March 2020, and the Mississippi Business Journal named her one of the state's top CEOs in 2024. Read more at donnaladd.com, follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @donnerkay and email her at donna@mississippifreepress.org.