Commissioner of Conservation Richard Ieyoub, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, on Talk Louisiana August 25, 2022
Former Louisiana Attorney General Richard Ieyoub has passed away. Ieyoub served three terms as head of the state Department of Justice – from 1992 to 2004. In August of last year, Ieyoub made what may be his last media appearance, on “Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster.” During that show he talked of his accomplishments, like winning a massive settlement with Big Tobacco for the harm their products did Louisianans, which netted over $4-Billion to Louisiana…:
“Even more important, we forced the tobacco companies to cease and desist from a method of advertising that appealed to young people.”
Ieyoub’s settlement with tobacco companies also forced them to stop marketing their products to teens. Ieyoub remembers getting a visit from a group of lawyers representing tobacco interests…:
“…and basically told me if I filed against them, they would be against me in the (1996) senate race and that my political career had no future. And that sort of got on my nerves and I filed the next day.”
Ieyoub actively fought against narcotics, underage drinking and DWI. He established the state’s first special unit targeting sex offenders.
Ieyoub ran for governor in 2003, but did not win. He says his campaign was impeded by fellow Democrat and fellow Lake Charles attorney (the late) Claude “Buddy” Leach, who campaigned hard against him in the New Orleans area and siphoned off over 5-percent of his voter support…:
“I came in second. That 5-percent would have made me governor, and he hurt me – obviously – more than any other candidate.”
Ieyoub survived cancer twice in recent years. He reportedly died in his sleep after experiencing complications related to surgery. Richard Ieyoub was 78.
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