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Tobacco executive goes public over company lies

After months of being stifled by threats, a former executive of a US tobacco company testified last week about how he and fellow executives knew explicitly that nicotine is addictive. His testimony was taken as part of a lawsuit by the state of Mississippi, which is seeking payments from the tobacco company for state money spent treating people with diseases related to smoking. At least seven other states in the US have similar suits pending.

Jeffrey Wigand, who led the research department at Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company from 1989 to 1993, described how his fellow executives were guilty of perjury, destroying evidence, halting researching into safer cigarettes, and reckless use of tobacco additives.

Mr Wigand's testimony will reach a wider audience through the CBS news show 60 Minutes, which had planned to broadcast an interview with him last October but was deterred by threats from Brown and Williamson's lawyers. The interview is due to be broadcast on Sunday (4 February).

Mr Wigand said that Thomas Sandefur Jr, who recently retired as chief executive of Brown and Williamson, said in meetings that the company was in the "nicotine delivery business" and that nicotine was addictive. But Mr Sandefur explicitly told Congress in 1994 that he did not believe nicotine was addictive, so if this story is supported Mr Sandefur could face criminal charges of lying to Congress. Lawyers from Brown and Williamson discounted Mr Wigand's testimony.

Brown and Williamson has for more than a year tried to discredit Mr Wigand, who now is 53 years old and teaches in a high school. The company said he lied about his education, job history, and scientific achievements. They have also accused him of spouse abuse. But Mr Wigand's lawyers say that none of these accusations has been borne out.

Since the 1994 tobacco hearings the Republicans have taken control of the government majority, and the committee that investigated the tobacco companies is now headed by Thomas Bliley, a Republican from Virginia and one of the industry's strongest supporters.--JOHN ROBERTS, North American editor, BMJ

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