Trial of Former Governor Begins

Jury selection has begun in the trial of former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, his son, and four co-defendants. They are charged with conspiring to extort mony from those who wanted to obtain riverboat gaming licenses between 1991 and 1996. The extortion schemes allegedly began in 1991, continued through Edwards' fourth and final term as governor from 1992 to 1996, and went on after he left office but still retained political clout in the state.