Ex-Mayor on Trial for Corruption

The former Mayor treated city contractors like "human ATMs," taking tens of thousands of dollars in cash and gifts in exchange for favors, prosecutors told jurors in opening statements at his federal corruption trial. The former Mayor’s attorneys countered that he would never have abused his elected position because of his lifelong dedication to civil rights and public service. The former Mayor is charged with racketeering, bribery and fraud. The indictments against the former Mayor were the result of a seven-year federal probe that led to the convictions of 10 city officials or contractors. Some are expected to testify against him. The prosecutors made the case that - while in office for two terms – the former Mayor and his associates made it clear to contractors that they had to "pay to play."

No, this isn’t a fictional piece, it’s a report about what’s happening to Atlanta’s former Mayor Bill Campbell (with a few details left out), now that he’s left office.