Black Power Structure Fears ‘Witch Hunt’ : Cocaine Inquiry Troubling Atlanta

ATLANTA â€”  When Mayor Andrew Young emerged from an appearance before a federal grand jury last week, he expressed hopes that the worst was over in the federal investigation into whether he improperly sought to impede a police probe of cocaine use by several prominent black Atlantans.

But black leaders in the city are not sanguine about that possibility. They have become increasingly disconcerted over the course of the grand jury investigation, contending that federal prosecutors are out to smear the mayor and, with him, the city’s black power structure.

“Everybody I’ve talked to thinks the investigation is just a political witch hunt,� said the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Council and a leading civil rights activist. “I think the Republican U.S. attorney would like nothing better than to nail Andy. We’re entering a presidential election year next year, and Atlanta is hosting the Democratic National Convention.�

Defends Investigation

U.S. Atty. Robert Barr said: “I would hope that the black leaders, as well as all leaders of this city, would support an objective assessment of these charges, so that the air could be cleared. If, indeed, there is found to be no criminal activity on the part of those named, that in and of itself would lend some credibility to the city government.�

The grand jury began hearing testimony last Tuesday following revelations that the estranged wife of former Georgia state Sen. Julian Bond had voluntarily told narcotics officers that her husband was using cocaine. According to published reports of a confidential police memorandum, she also claimed that several other prominent blacks--including Mayor Young and the mayor’s younger brother, Walter, an Atlanta dentist--also had used the drug.

The focus of the investigation, however, is on the possibility that Young sought to hinder the police probe into the accusations. After Young telephoned Mrs. Bond, she publicly recanted the statements she made to police. And three police officers on the Bond case were transferred to lesser duties.

Young Explains Motives

However, Young maintains that he called Mrs. Bond out of compassion for her and her family and out of concern that she might be spreading false rumors about cocaine use among members of Atlanta’s black political establishment. Young also has denied ever using cocaine or even seeing the drug “except in the movies.�

Young and police officials said that the transfers of the three officers were routine and unrelated to the Bond case.

“I don’t believe that people in the black community--or in the white community either, for that matter--think the mayor was attempting to obstruct justice,� said Michael Lomax, chairman of the Fulton County Commission and one of Atlanta’s most powerful black political figures.

“It seems absolutely in character for the mayor to do what he said he did in calling Alice Bond. It might not have been the most prudent thing to do. But was it a violation of the law?--no.�

However, not all blacks are convinced that the mayor is blameless. “He was, indeed, telling her to keep her mouth shut and not to talk to the police or the FBI,� said a prominent black Atlantan who requested to remain unidentified. “Andy has never been a close friend of the Bonds, although that’s the rap he’s making now. He’s never been to any of their funerals or weddings, and he’s probably never been in their house five times.�

sh Too Early to Judge

Claibourne Darden Jr., a prominent white Atlanta pollster and political analyst, said that it is too early to determine the political fallout of the grand jury investigation.

“For one thing,� Darden said, “Andy is a Teflon politician--nothing sticks to him. You’ll find very few people who dislike him, even though they may not admire him or think much of the way he runs the city.

“For another, Andy relies on the black vote in winning office, and the black vote historically is insensitive to criminal charges brought against black politicians, largely out of a feeling that ‘the system’ is always against them to begin with.�

Mrs. Bond appeared before the grand jury last Wednesday, one day before the mayor was called to testify.

Denies Attempt to Influence

“She explained to the grand jury that when Mayor Young called her, that she did not feel then, and does not feel now, that there was any attempt to influence her testimony or to cause her not to talk to the police,� her attorney, Bruce Maloy, told reporters.

Her husband, who gave up his long-time seat in the Georgia Legislature for an ill-fated congressional run, has vigorously denied ever using cocaine.

The grand jury recessed after hearing three days of testimony last week and is scheduled to resume hearings next month.