Among policies under consideration at USDA while Espy was in office was one involving labeling requirements that would have cost Tyson an estimated $30 million, according to a recent report in the Chicago Tribune. An independent counsel charged Tyson had provided gifts (including tickets to a Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers football game) to Espy in hopes of influencing government policy.
Tyson pleads guilty
After long defending itself against charges of giving some $12ꯠ in illegal gifts to then Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, Tyson Foods agreed to plead guilty and pay a $6 million penalty.
Jan 31st, 1998