District Attorney Eddie Jordan issued the following statement Thursday night regarding City Councilmember Shelley Midura's request for his resignation:

New Orleans, LA—It has come to my attention that New Orleans City Councilmember Shelley Midura, District A, has requested my resignation on behalf of her constituents. I am a duly elected official by the people of Orleans Parish; therefore, it is my responsibility to seek justice.

In a written statement, Councilmember Midura asserts that her request results from the “events of the last 48 hours.” She later insinuates that my office did not exhaust necessary measures to prevent the Michael Anderson case from being dismissed, which is not factual.

As I stated in a press conference yesterday, my office has made consistent efforts to communicate with parties involved in this case, including the witness, a relative of the witness, NOPD and ATF.

Communications with the witness began in June 2006 when Assistant District Attorney LaShonda Webb spoke with a, then, cooperative witness on June 19, June 20 and June 21. At this time, the witness received living and relocation assistance from the federal government. 

On September 22, 2006, the witness made contact with ADA Webb.

On February 14, 2007, my office sent a letter to NOPD Homicide requesting assistance in locating 14 witnesses in homicide cases, including the witness in the Anderson case. My office received neither response, nor assistance from NOPD in locating the witness. However, ADA Webb began communications with ATF agents regarding locating the witness. ATF was not successful in locating the witness, but gun charges were pursued in federal court.

On March 19, 2007, a relative informed ADA Webb that the witness had relocated.  On March 20, 2007, Detective Jeff Lehrman referred ADA Webb to Detective Joseph Williamson whom he said could offer assistance in locating the witness. ADA Webb contacted Detective Williamson that day.

On April 10, 2007, Detective Williamson informed ADA Webb that he was unable to make contact with the witness. That day, ADA Webb called the relative she had
spoken with on March 19. According to Webb, the relative said she was unaware of the witness’ whereabouts, and had been told by the witness that she was not going to testify.

Additionally, investigators made two trips to Baton Rouge in search of the witness; both trips were unsuccessful.

In response to the recent change of events, my office has taken active measures to pursue the case.  Yesterday, Clyde McCoy, Chief of Investigations, issued a subpoena to the witness to appear before the Orleans Parish Grand Jury on Thursday, July 19, 2007. We will pursue charges and work to have this case reinstituted.

In my pursuit of justice, my office has made improvements over the last few years and continues to address areas in need of improvement, making necessary adjustments.  I have executed all of my responsibilities with the highest level of ethics, and will continue to work with all components of the criminal justice system.