The Nation - News from March 10, 1985

Louisiana’s Gov. Edwin Edwards and six co-defendants pleaded innocent to charges that they ran a racketeering enterprise through which big hospital chains became eligible for millions of dollars in federal aid. Each was released on $100,000 bond pending trial at which the prosecution will seek prison terms and return of $10 million in “ill-gotten gains.” Within hours of the arraignment, U.S. District Judge Marcel Livaudais issued a gag order prohibiting the co-defendants from discussing the case in public.