Deepwater Horizon special master Louis Freeh recuperating from car accident

NEW ORLEANS – Former FBI director Louis Freeh, who has investigated claims of fraud in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill claims process, released a statement days after he was seriously injured in a single car accident in Vermont.

Freeh, 64, released the following statement through U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy:

"I wish to thank Senator Patrick Leahy, my close friend of 24 years, as well as my dear friends Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Tom Carper, Attorney General Beau Biden, former Senator Joe Lieberman, former Attorney General Mike Mukasey, and so many others, for their outpouring of concern following my automobile accident.

"I want to thank Director Comey and the agents and employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their support and prayers as I recover.  From the very first moments of the accident to the present, their devotion, vigilance and prayers have sustained me and my family.  I have the greatest respect and affection for them and their families.

"I also want to express my deep appreciation to the talented medical professionals who are providing me excellent medical care.  I will forever be grateful to them for their wonderful work which will enable me to recover.

"Finally, I am very grateful to my devoted family and friends for their love and extraordinary support.

"May God bless all of these individuals who are so instrumental in my recovery."

Freeh, was severely injured in a one-car accident in Barnard, Vt. after he struck a mailbox and tree on Aug. 25. Following the incident Freeh was evacuated to a nearby hospital via helicopter.

A report by the Associated Press stated that Freeh likely fell asleep and that drugs and alcohol were not factors in the accident.

According to The News Journal, Freeh has undergone two surgeries since the accident and is currently under armed guard at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.

Freeh has been a major player in the Deepwater Horizon case since being named a special master to investigate questionable claims.

Last September, Freeh released an in-depth report that indicated what he called a “money laundering” scheme between the AndryLerner law firm and Court Supervised Settlement Program (CSSP) attorney Lionel Sutton in which Sutton allegedly received a referral fee for sending shrimper Casey Thonn to AndryLerner which then received a $357,000 fee that was later found to be based on fraudulent tax documents. Freeh also alleged Sutton unsuccessfully used his position within the CSSP to attempt to expedite Thonn’s claim. After the alleged scheme was discovered, Freeh suggested that the Department of Justice look into the issue.

More recently Freeh discovered another AndryLerner client had allegedly based a $50,000 claim on fraudulent tax documents. Freeh had been continuing his investigation into suspicious claims at the time of the accident.