After keeping a low profile before and after the indictment of former NOPD officer Jeffrey Vappie, Mayor LaToya Cantrell is stepping back into the public eye.
“I have 497 more days in my term serving you as the mayor of the city of New Orleans and I don’t say that right to say that I’m tired,” Cantrell said earlier this week.
With fewer than 500 days left in office, Cantrell has made multiple public appearances, highlighting new investments in New Orleans East, the city’s post-Katrina growth, and a partnership with entertainer Master P.
“Every day counts. It’s always mattered,” Cantrell said, “We’re gonna finish strong, and we’re going to make sure we leave the city better off for the next wave of leadership that will continue the legacy. They’re not just started with Cantrell. Guess what but a lot did.”
Both Vappie and Cantrell have consistently denied any personal relationship.
When asked if Cantrell believes her legal troubles are coming to a close, Dillard University Political Analyst Robert Collins said, “I think she believes that. But of course, it’s all speculation. The U.S. Attorney doesn’t release that information.”
Collins added that Cantrell’s return to the spotlight may be due to Vappie’s retirement and the nearing end of her term. Regardless, he noted, it’s good for the public to see the mayor again.
In July, federal prosecutors charged Vappie with concealing a romantic relationship with Cantrell and filing false payroll records. Vappie allegedly claimed he was on duty as one of Cantrell’s bodyguards during times they spent together on trips abroad, at restaurants, and in a city-owned apartment in the French Quarter. He was indicted on charges of wire fraud and making false statements and is expected to appear in court next week. Vappie’s lawyers asserted his innocence in a statement on Monday. He retired from the New Orleans police department last month.
“Jeff Vappie is innocent of the charges against him,” attorneys Harry Rosenberg and Shaun Clarke, who represent Vappie, told 4WWL. “He is eager to defend himself in court and clear his name.”
Mayor Cantrell has not been charged. In a statement issued by City Hall, she declined to comment. The indictment refers to her as “Public Official 1,” noting she was elected mayor in November 2017 and re-elected four years later, matching the timeline of Cantrell’s terms.
In February, Shine My Crown reported that Cantrell was under investigation again following accusations of an affair with Vappie, who had accompanied her on a taxpayer-funded trip to Dubai. According to the New York Post and FOX 8, the FBI was investigating Cantrell for allegedly spending time with Vappie both during and outside of official duties in a private apartment called the Upper Pontalba, which reportedly contributed to the dissolution of Vappie’s marriage.
Additionally, it has been claimed that before Vappie was removed as Cantrell’s official security guard, he accompanied her to a “climate action” event in Dubai last year. Reports indicate that the mayor’s office covered her $24,000 expenses for the trip, while taxpayers funded up to $14,000 for Vappie’s travel, accommodations, and other costs.
Court documents reveal that Vappie admitted to engaging in an affair with the mayor. However, Cantrell has denied all allegations.
