Chester Trent Lott

Chester Trent Lott Sr. (born October 9, 1941 in Grenada, Mississippi) is a former United States Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party. He has served in numerous leadership positions in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, including House Minority Whip, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, and Senate Minority Whip. Lott is the first person to have served as whip in both houses of Congress.

On December 20, 2002, after significant controversy following what were viewed as racist comments regarding Strom Thurmond's presidential candidacy, Lott resigned as Senate Majority Leader in the Senate. In December 2007, he resigned from the Senate entirely and became a Washington-based lobbyist. Lott's resignation from the Senate came just two days before the federal indictment of his brother-in-law trial lawyer Richard Scruggs. Scruggs eventually pled guilty to conspiring to bribe a Mississippi judge by promising him a federal judgeship appointment using his influence over Lott. Lott ruled out any health concerns affecting his resignation. At a press conference on December 31, 2007, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour appointed Roger Wicker to fill temporarily the Senate seat vacated by Lott. On November 4, 2008, a special election Senate race was held to replace him. He was succeeded in office by Republican Roger Wicker.