Did defense accidentally bolster government's case against Jeffrey Vappie?

A federal investigation into New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell continues, and the arraignment this week of her former NOPD bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, adds to growing speculation about when that investigation will wrap up.

The arraignment also raised another question from a criminal justice watchdog.

Prosecutors wanted the judge to tell Vappie he couldn't have contact with any potential U.S. government witnesses. Metro Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche says the defense had one major complaint:

"The one witness that was on the government list was Mayor Cantrell that the defense team argued that their client, Officer Vappie, should be allowed to stay in touch with the mayor," said Goyeneche, "because she's important to him, and he wants her by his side during the greatest ordeal of his life."

Goyeneche told WWL's Newell Normand that the defense arguing that the mayor is an important person to Vappie only backs up the government's argument that Vappie had a personal relationship with the mayor, which means he should not have been claiming work hours for time spent with her.

"I think that the defenses' arguments tend to support the allegations contained in the government indictment," said Goyeneche.

The judge determined Vappie could continue to have contact with people on the U.S. Attorney's Office's witness list, as long as they do not discuss Vappie's case.