Former US agriculture secretary charged

28 August 1997

Former US agriculture secretary charged

THE US federal grand jury charged Mike Espy, former agriculture secretary, of accepting more than $35,000 (£21,000) in gifts, trips and favours from large agribusinesses between 1993-94.

Witness tampering and lying to investigators are among the charges. He could face more than 10 years in prison if convicted of all 39 charges and sentenced consecutively.