Lott under investigation for Mississippi judge case

Just when it looked like former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott's stock was going up, the Wall Street Journal reports his legal troubles may be just beginning (sub req'd for full piece):

Federal agents are investigating whether former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott knowingly played a role in an alleged conspiracy in 2006 to influence a Mississippi judge presiding over a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against famed plaintiff attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, according to people familiar with the situation.

Mr. Scruggs and several associates are scheduled to stand trial March 31 on charges that they offered $40,000 in bribes to State Court Judge Henry L. Lackey in return for a favorable ruling in a lawsuit against Mr. Scruggs over $26.5 million in legal fees.

Facing South covered this case last November, as well as the possibility that this is the real reason Lott abruptly quit the Senate last fall.