Edwards anticipates early prison release

• By ALLEN M. JOHNSON JR.
• Advocate New Orleans bureau
• Published: Dec 2, 2008 - Page: 5B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — Edwin Edwards is hoping to get released from prison early, with the help of former President George H.W. Bush, according to the owner of a Winnfield Web site who visited Edwards at the Federal Detention Center at Oakdale for three hours Sunday.

Grendel M. Levy, who covered Edwards’ federal racketeering trial for WGNO-TV26 in 2000, also said Monday that Edwards, now 82, appears healthy.  

“He looks very good,” Levy said of Edwards. “He doesn’t look he’s aged since the trial.”

Levy said Edwards is counting on receiving a commutation of his 10-year sentence in the coming weeks from outgoing President George W. Bush, with the help of the senior Bush.

Without presidential clemency, Edwards is likely not eligible for release until July 2011.

“I said ‘I heard that “41” was in your favor,’” Levy said.

“(Edwards) replied, ‘Yeah, I have spoken to (former President Bush) and he said he’s personally gone to his son and personally requested that I receive a (commutation).’”

She says Edwards will be “crushed” if he does not receive clemency from the outgoing president, who leaves office Jan. 20.
Edwards works in the prison library. The former governor says the worst part of prison life is the “bland” food and having to get up at 6 a.m., Levy said. “He says he’s not a morning person.

“The funniest thing is he really is preparing for life after prison,” Levy said. “He took me out to the parking lot and told me what kind of car he wanted when he got out. He’s also chosen his cell phone company (provider).”

Levy also said the former governor says he’s “getting old and wants to travel.”

Levy said Edwards’ son, Stephen Edwards, was released from prison last year and now owns an awning business in Baton Rouge.
“(Edwards) said, ‘Stephen never liked law much anyway. He’s an outdoor person,’” Levy recalled.

Levy gave details of her exclusive interview with the jailed governor in a Monday interview with conservative radio talk show host and political analyst Jeff Crouere of WGSO-AM Radio in New Orleans. (http://www.wgso.com)

Crouere said Edwards has some potent political support in his bid for freedom, including former U.S. Sens. J. Bennett Johnston and John Breaux, and former Gov. David C. Treen.