Defendant and former FBI director exchange barbs over BP settlement

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A target of former FBI Director Louis Freeh's probe of alleged misconduct in the settlement program for compensating victims of BP's 2010 Gulf oil spill is questioning Freeh's impartiality, citing his ties to a law firm that represents the London-based oil giant. Before a judge appointed him to investigate, Freeh disclosed he is a partner at a law firm that is working on an unrelated case with lawyers from Kirkland & Ellis, which represents BP. In a court filing Wednesday, lawyers for New Orleans-based attorney Jon Andry argue they need more information about the relationship to determine whether to seek Freeh's disqualification from the misconduct probe. In a report last month, Freeh said he found "ample evidence" that Andry and other attorneys tried to corrupt the settlement process.