Louisiana Police: No evidence tying Loomis to eavesdropping
The Louisiana State police have found no evidence that Saints general manager Mickey Loomis eavesdropped on opponents' conversations between 2002-04, it was announced Monday.
The findings followed a four-month investigation that was launched after an ESPN report in April that quoted an unnamed employee who said Loomis had a system installed at the Superdome that enabled him to listen to the conversations of opposing coaches on the sideline and in the coaching boxes.
"As of today there is no corroborating evidence of fact," State Police Col. Mike Edmonson said, per the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
The Louisiana State police conducted an investigation into whether any state laws were violated, but did not make any conclusions as to whether any federal laws were broken.
"I would caution that we are not in a position to affirm or comment on the status or existence of any federal investigation. Today's release pertains only to the State Police inquiry," Edmonson said.
The FBI also conducted an investigation, but has yet to offer its findings or opinions. Edmondson informed Saints owner Tom Benson of the findings, but the team had not yet issued a comment.
Loomis has strongly denied the wiretapping allegations from the outset. The Saints, who have also been the focus of a highly publicized bounty scandal this offseason, hired former FBI Director Louis Freeh in April to conduct an internal investigation. Team spokesman Greg Bensel said the franchise granted Freeh's firm "complete access" during its investigation, the results of which have not been made public.
A federal source not involved in the case told The Sports Xchange in May that it "might be problematic" for investigators to uncover evidence against Loomis substantial enough to bring any action.
"In my 28 or 29 years in the NFL I have never listened to an opposing team's communication," Loomis said in April. "I have never asked for the capability to listen to an opposing team's communication. I have never inquired as to the possibility of listening in on an opposing team's communications. And I have never been aware of the ability to listen in on an opposing team's communication in the Super Dome or any NFL stadium."
ESPN's "Outside The Lines," citing an unidentified source, reported in April that Loomis ordered a device in his Superdome suite be re-wired so he could listen to opponents' conversations through his own earpiece from 2002-04. The report didn't specify whether he ever used the device.
"I'm angry about it. It's not true. I have a clear conscience. That's all I can say," Loomis said at the time. "The people that know me and know me the best have all come to my defense. They've stated to me they know it's not true. Maybe that has to be good enough."
Loomis will serve an eight-game suspension at the beginning of the regular season as part of the punishment levied by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stemming from the bounty scandal.
